Daily Readings - Wed Jan 30 2019
Hebrews
11And certainly, every priest stands by, ministering daily, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins12But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, sits at the right hand of God forever13awaiting that time when his enemies will be made his footstool14For, by one oblation, he has brought to fulfillment, for all time, those who are sanctified15Now the Holy Spirit also testifies for us about this. For afterward, he said16"And this is the testament which I will commit to them after those days, says the Lord. I will instill my laws in their hearts, and I will inscribe my laws on their minds17And I will no longer remember their sins and iniquities.18Now, when there is a remission of these things, there is no longer an oblation for sin
Mark
1And again, he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered to him, so much so that, climbing into a boat, he was seated on the sea. And the entire crowd was on the land along the sea2And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them, in his doctrine3"Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow4And while he was sowing, some fell along the way, and the birds of the air came and ate it5Yet truly, others fell upon stony ground, where it did not have much soil. And it rose up quickly, because it had no depth of soil6And when the sun was risen, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away7And some fell among thorns. And the thorns grew up and suffocated it, and it did not produce fruit8And some fell on good soil. And it brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased, and yielded: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.9And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.10And when he was alone, the twelve, who were with him, questioned him about the parable11And he said to them: "To you, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those who are outside, everything is presented in parables12‘so that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they may be converted, and their sins would be forgiven them.’ 13And he said to them: "Do you not understand this parable? And so, how will you understand all the parables14He who sows, sows the word15Now there are those who are along the way, where the word is sown. And when they have heard it, Satan quickly comes and takes away the word, which was sown in their hearts16And similarly, there are those who were sown upon stony ground. These, when they have heard the word, immediately accept it with gladness17But they have no root in themselves, and so they are for a limited time. And when next tribulation and persecution arises because of the word, they quickly fall away18And there are others who are sown among thorns. These are those who hear the word19but worldly tasks, and the deception of riches, and desires about other things enter in and suffocate the word, and it is effectively without fruit20And there are those who are sown upon good soil, who hear the word and accept it; and these bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about God’s plan and our response to it. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us of the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice over the repeated offerings of the old covenant. While priests once offered sacrifices daily, unable to eradicate sin, Christ’s single sacrifice achieves what the old covenant could not, offering redemption once and for all. This passage highlights the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy, where God’s laws are inscribed on hearts and minds, and sins are no longer remembered. The Gospel, on the other hand, presents Jesus’ parable of the sower, illustrating how the word of God is received in different hearts. The parable teaches us about the varying responses to God’s word, from rejection by the hardened heart to abundant fruit in the fertile heart.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the theological and pastoral concerns of their audiences. Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians, reassuring them of the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice and the new covenant’s efficacy. Mark’s parable reflects Jesus’ concern for His disciples’ understanding and the broader crowd’s spiritual state, emphasizing the importance of receptive hearts. Together, these readings connect by highlighting God’s ultimate plan: Christ’s sacrifice paves the way for the word of God to take root in human hearts, leading to a fruitful life.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we receive God’s word. Do we let it take root, or do we allow the pressures of life to choke it out? The moral lesson here is clear: true faith is not superficial but deeply rooted, enduring through trials and producing abundant fruit. Just as Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient, our response must be wholehearted, nurturing fertile soil where God’s word can flourish. Let us strive to be the good soil, allowing God’s word to transform us and bear fruit in our lives.