Daily Readings - Sat Feb 09 2019
Hebrews
15Therefore, through him, let us offer the sacrifice of continual praise to God, which is the fruit of lips confessing his name16But do not be willing to forget good works and fellowship. For God is deserving of such sacrifices17Obey your leaders and be subject to them. For they watch over you, as if to render an account of your souls. So then, may they do this with joy, and not with grief. Otherwise, it would not be as helpful to you20Then may the God of peace, who led back from the dead that great Pastor of sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the blood of the eternal testament21equip you with all goodness, so that you may do his will. May he accomplish in you whatever is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen
Mark
30And the Apostles, returning to Jesus, reported to him everything that they had done and taught31And he said to them, "Go out alone, into a deserted place, and rest for a little while." For there were so many who were coming and going, that they did not even have time to eat32And climbing into a boat, they went away to a deserted place alone33And they saw them going away, and many knew about it. And together they ran by foot from all the cities, and they arrived before them34And Jesus, going out, saw a great multitude. And he took pity on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of balance and compassion in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Hebrews encourages us to offer praise to God through our words and actions, emphasizing the value of good works and fellowship. It also urges us to obey our leaders and support them, as they guide us in our faith. The second reading from Mark illustrates Jesus's compassion as He teaches the crowd, who are like sheep without a shepherd, after the Apostles return from their mission.
The context of these readings highlights early Christian communities' challenges. Hebrews was written to encourage believers to remain faithful amidst trials, while Mark's passage shows Jesus's response to the Apostles' need for rest and the crowd's need for guidance. Both readings connect through themes of leadership and care: Hebrews focuses on the role of leaders, and Mark shows Jesus leading by example with compassion.
Applying this to our lives, we are reminded to balance rest and service. Just as Jesus taught the Apostles to rest, we too need moments of reflection. Additionally, we are called to lead or follow with compassion, supporting one another as the early Church did. The moral lesson here is the importance of finding balance and leading with kindness, mirroring Jesus's example. By doing so, we can serve others compassionately while nurturing our own spiritual well-being.