Daily Readings - Mon Feb 04 2019
Hebrews
32And what should I say next? For time is not sufficient for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the Prophets33those who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions34extinguished the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, showed strength in battle, turned back the armies of foreigners35Women received their dead by means of resurrection. But others suffered severe punishment, not yet receiving redemption, so that they would find a better resurrection36Truly, others were tested by mocking and lashes, and moreover by chains and imprisonment37They were stoned; they were cut; they were tempted. With the slaughter of the sword, they were killed. They wandered about in sheepskin and in goatskin, in dire need, in anguish afflicted38Of them, the world was not worthy, wandering in solitude on mountains, in the caves and caverns of the earth39And all these, having been proven by the testimony of faith, did not receive the Promise40God’s Providence holds something better for us, so that not without us would they be perfected
Mark
1And they went across the strait of the sea into the region of the Gerasenes2And as he was departing from the boat, he was immediately met, from among the tombs, by a man with an unclean spirit3who had his dwelling place with the tombs; neither had anyone been able to bind him, even with chains4For having been bound often with shackles and chains, he had broken the chains and smashed the shackles; and no one had been able to tame him5And he was always, day and night, among the tombs, or in the mountains, crying out and cutting himself with stones6And seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and adored him7And crying out with a loud voice, he said: "What am I to you, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God? I beseech you by God, that you not torment me.8For he said to him, "Depart from the man, you unclean spirit.9And he questioned him: "What is your name?" And he said to him, "My name is Legion, for we are many.10And he entreated him greatly, so that he would not expel him from the region11And in that place, near the mountain, there was a great herd of swine, feeding12And the spirits entreated him, saying: "Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.13And Jesus promptly gave them permission. And the unclean spirits, departing, entered into the swine. And the herd of about two thousand rushed down with great force into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea14Then those who pastured them fled, and they reported it in the city and in the countryside. And they all went out to see what was happening15And they came to Jesus. And they saw the man who had been troubled by the demon, sitting, clothed and with a sane mind, and they were afraid16And those who had seen it explained to them how he had dealt with the man who had the demon, and about the swine17And they began to petition him, so that he would withdraw from their borders18And as he was climbing into the boat, the man who had been troubled by the demons began to beg him, so that he might be with him19And he did not permit him, but he said to him, "Go to your own people, in your own house, and announce to them how great are the things that Lord has done for you, and how he has taken pity on you.20And he went away and began to preach in the Ten Cities, how great were the things that Jesus had done for him. And everyone wondered
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and transformation. The first reading from Hebrews 11 presents a roll call of faith, highlighting figures who, despite immense suffering and without receiving the promised rewards, remained steadfast in their trust in God. Their stories remind us that faith is not about immediate gratification but about enduring trust in God's plan, even when the outcomes are unclear. The Gospel from Mark 5 offers a dramatic account of Jesus healing a man tormented by a legion of demons. This man, who had been ostracized and suffered greatly, found liberation through Jesus' compassion and power. The story underscores Jesus' authority over evil and His desire to restore wholeness to those who are broken.
The readings are connected by the theme of faith in the face of adversity. The heroes of faith in Hebrews endured unimaginable trials yet trusted in God's promise of something greater. Similarly, the man in the Gospel had to trust Jesus to free him from the grip of darkness. Both stories emphasize that true faith is not about avoiding suffering but about trusting God in the midst of it. For the man possessed by demons, faith meant surrendering to Jesus' power and allowing Him to transform his life. For the heroes of faith, it meant persevering even when the promised redemption seemed distant.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own faith. Do we trust God when circumstances are difficult? Do we believe that He is working for our good, even when we cannot see the full picture? The man in the Gospel was transformed by Jesus and became a witness to His power, preaching to his own people. Similarly, we are called to trust God in our struggles and to share the hope we have found with others. The moral lesson is clear: faith is not about comfort or ease; it is about trusting in God's plan and allowing Him to bring light out of darkness. Let us, like the heroes of faith and the healed man, trust in God's providence and proclaim His greatness to a world in need of hope.