Daily Readings - Tue Jan 19 2021
Hebrews
10For God is not unjust, such that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown in his name. For you have ministered, and you continue to minister, to the saints11Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end12so that you may not be slow to act, but instead may be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, shall inherit the promises13For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear)14saying: "Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.15And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise16For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy17In this matter, God, wanting to reveal more thoroughly the immutability of his counsel to the heirs of the promise, interposed an oath18so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest solace: we who have fled together so as to hold fast to the hope set before us19This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil20to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek
Mark
23And again, while the Lord was walking through the ripe grain on the Sabbath, his disciples, as they advanced, began to separate the ears of grains24But the Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?25And he said to them: "Have you never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, both he and those who were with him26How he went into the house of God, under the high priest Abiathar, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and how he gave it to those who were with him?27And he said to them: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath28And so, the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
**Sermon Reflection on Hebrews 6:10-20 and Mark 2:23-28**
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about trust, hope, and compassion. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us of God's unwavering faithfulness and the unshakeable nature of His promises. Using Abraham as an example, Hebrews encourages us to persevere in hope, trusting that God's promises are our anchor in uncertain times. This passage, likely addressing early Christians facing challenges, underscores the importance of maintaining faith and hope, with Jesus as our steadfast anchor.
The Gospel from Mark presents a scenario where Jesus and His disciples encounter criticism for their actions on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their behavior by referencing David's actions and emphasizing that the Sabbath is for humanity's benefit, not the other way around. This highlights Jesus' authority and His focus on human well-being over rigid legalism. This passage, part of early conflicts with Pharisees, teaches us to prioritize people's needs and acts of love over strict adherence to rules.
Both readings converge on themes of trust and faith. Hebrews urges us to trust God's promises, while Mark shows Jesus trusting God's will and teaching about the Sabbath's true purpose. Together, they encourage us to trust God, live according to His will, and balance compassion with tradition.
In daily life, these teachings remind us to maintain hope in God's faithfulness, especially during challenges. From Mark, we learn to avoid letting rules hinder acts of love and care for others. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's faithfulness, keep hope alive, and practice compassion, as Jesus did when He allowed His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath. Let us embrace trust, hope, and compassion, living as reflections of God's love in the world.