Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 20, 2021
First Reading: Hebrews 7.1-3, 15-17
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him2And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously15And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest16who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life17For he testifies: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 110
1A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.2The Lord will send forth the scepter of your virtue from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies3It is with you from the beginning, in the day of your virtue, in the splendor of the saints. From conception, before the light-bearer, I begot you4The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.5The Lord is at your right hand. He has broken kings in the day of his wrath6He will judge between the nations; he will fill up ruination. He will shatter heads in the land of the many7He will drink from the torrent on the way. Because of this, he will exalt the head
Gospel: Mark 3.1-6
1And again, he entered into the synagogue. And there was a man there who had a withered hand2And they observed him, to see if he would cure on the Sabbaths, so that they might accuse him3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Stand up in the middle.4And he said to them: "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbaths, or to do evil, to give health to a life, or to destroy?" But they remained silent5And looking around at them with anger, being very saddened over the blindness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Extend your hand." And he extended it, and his hand was restored to him6Then the Pharisees, going out, immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, as to how they might destroy him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on priesthood and service. The first reading from Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who is both king and priest, without genealogy or end. This enigmatic character is likened to the Son of God, emphasizing Jesus' eternal priesthood. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus challenging the Pharisees' strict observance of the Sabbath by healing a man with a withered hand, highlighting the importance of compassion over legalism.
The context of Hebrews is a theological explanation of Jesus' priesthood, superior to the Levitical order, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging role. In Mark, the scene is set in the early ministry of Jesus, where His actions spark conflict with religious authorities, illustrating the tension between tradition and the living Word of God. Both readings converge on the theme of priesthood as a call to serve and bless, rather than to constrain or control.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we serve others. Like Melchizedek, we are called to be instruments of blessing, and like Jesus, to prioritize compassion over rigid rules. The moral lesson is clear: true service involves challenging injustices and bringing healing, embodying the eternal priesthood of Christ through selfless love and action. Let us embrace this call to serve with hearts full of compassion and courage.