Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 11, 2021
First Reading: Hebrews 1.1-6
1In many places and in many ways, in past times, God spoke to the fathers through the Prophets2lastly, in these days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he appointed as the heir of all things, and through whom he made the world3And since the Son is the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and is carrying all things by the Word of his virtue, thereby accomplishing a purging of sins, he sits at the right hand of Majesty on high4And having been made so much better than the Angels, he has inherited a name so much greater than theirs5For to which of the Angels has he ever said: "You are my Son; today have I begotten you?" Or again: "I will be a Father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?6And again, when he brings the only-begotten Son into the world, he says: "And let all the Angels of God adore him.
Psalm 97
1This is to David, when his land was restored to him. The Lord has reigned, let the earth exult. Let the many islands rejoice2Clouds and mist are all around him. Justice and judgment are corrections from his throne3A fire will precede him, and it will enflame his enemies all around4His lightnings have enlightened the whole world. The earth saw, and it was shaken5The mountains flowed like wax before the face of the Lord, before the face of the Lord of all the earth6The heavens announced his justice, and all peoples saw his glory7May all those who adore graven images be confounded, along with those who glory in their false images. All you his Angels: Adore him8Zion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Judah exulted because of your judgments, O Lord9For you are the Most High Lord over all the earth. You are greatly exalted above all gods10You who love the Lord: hate evil. The Lord watches over the souls of his holy ones. He will free them from the hand of the sinner11The light has risen for the just, and joy for the upright of heart12Rejoice in the Lord, you just ones, and confess to the memory of his sanctuary
Gospel: Mark 1.14-20
14Then, after John was handed over, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God15and saying: "For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.16And passing by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew, casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen17And Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.18And at once abandoning their nets, they followed him19And continuing on a little ways from there, he saw James of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were mending their nets in a boat20And immediately he called them. And leaving behind their father Zebedee in the boat with his hired hands, they followed him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter the profound truth of Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God and the initiator of a new way of life. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes that God, who spoke through prophets in the past, has now spoken definitively through His Son, who is the very essence of God’s being and the creator of the world. This passage highlights the superiority of Christ over the angels, underscoring His unique role in salvation history. The Gospel from Mark then shifts our focus to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After John the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus proclaims the arrival of the kingdom of God, calling people to repentance and faith. His encounter with the first disciples—Simon, Andrew, James, and John—demonstrates the radical call to follow Him, leaving behind their familiar lives to become “fishers of men.”
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on the authority and uniqueness of Jesus Christ. While Hebrews presents Jesus as the divine Word through whom all things were made, Mark shows Him as the active Messiah who inaugurates the kingdom of God. Together, they invite us to recognize Jesus as the one who surpasses all previous revelations and who calls us to a life of discipleship. The immediate response of the disciples—leaving their nets and family behind—challenges us to consider how we respond to God’s call in our own lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly recognize Jesus as the ultimate authority in our lives? Are we willing to let go of our comforts and distractions to follow Him? The call to repentance and belief in the Gospel is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment. Just as the first disciples trusted in Jesus’ invitation, we too are called to trust in His plan for us. May we, like them, embrace the adventure of faith, knowing that Jesus is the source of all truth and the one who brings light and salvation to our world.