Daily Readings - Wed Jan 27 2021
Hebrews
11And certainly, every priest stands by, ministering daily, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins12But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, sits at the right hand of God forever13awaiting that time when his enemies will be made his footstool14For, by one oblation, he has brought to fulfillment, for all time, those who are sanctified15Now the Holy Spirit also testifies for us about this. For afterward, he said16"And this is the testament which I will commit to them after those days, says the Lord. I will instill my laws in their hearts, and I will inscribe my laws on their minds17And I will no longer remember their sins and iniquities.18Now, when there is a remission of these things, there is no longer an oblation for sin
Mark
1And again, he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered to him, so much so that, climbing into a boat, he was seated on the sea. And the entire crowd was on the land along the sea2And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them, in his doctrine3"Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow4And while he was sowing, some fell along the way, and the birds of the air came and ate it5Yet truly, others fell upon stony ground, where it did not have much soil. And it rose up quickly, because it had no depth of soil6And when the sun was risen, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away7And some fell among thorns. And the thorns grew up and suffocated it, and it did not produce fruit8And some fell on good soil. And it brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased, and yielded: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.9And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.10And when he was alone, the twelve, who were with him, questioned him about the parable11And he said to them: "To you, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those who are outside, everything is presented in parables12‘so that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they may be converted, and their sins would be forgiven them.’ 13And he said to them: "Do you not understand this parable? And so, how will you understand all the parables14He who sows, sows the word15Now there are those who are along the way, where the word is sown. And when they have heard it, Satan quickly comes and takes away the word, which was sown in their hearts16And similarly, there are those who were sown upon stony ground. These, when they have heard the word, immediately accept it with gladness17But they have no root in themselves, and so they are for a limited time. And when next tribulation and persecution arises because of the word, they quickly fall away18And there are others who are sown among thorns. These are those who hear the word19but worldly tasks, and the deception of riches, and desires about other things enter in and suffocate the word, and it is effectively without fruit20And there are those who are sown upon good soil, who hear the word and accept it; and these bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of God’s plan for our salvation and the way we receive His Word in our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, who by offering Himself on the cross, has perfected those who are sanctified. This passage contrasts the endless sacrifices of the old covenant with the single, perfect sacrifice of Jesus, which has the power to forgive sins and bring us into a lasting relationship with God. The author emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice is not just a past event but an eternal reality, as He now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us.
In the Gospel, Mark presents us with the parable of the sower, which Jesus uses to teach about the different ways people respond to the Word of God. The seed represents the Word, and the various types of soil represent the hearts of those who hear it. Some people’s hearts are like the path, where the Word is quickly snatched away by Satan. Others are like rocky ground, where the Word is received with enthusiasm but lacks depth and endurance. Still, others are like thorny soil, where worldly concerns and desires choke out the Word. Finally, there are those with good soil, who hear the Word, accept it, and bear abundant fruit. Jesus explains that understanding this parable is key to understanding all the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
These readings are deeply connected. The sacrifice of Christ, which we celebrate in the Eucharist, is the source of the grace that allows us to receive the Word of God with open and fruitful hearts. The parable of the sower challenges us to examine our own lives and ask: What kind of soil am I? Do I allow the Word of God to take root in my heart, or are there obstacles—like fear, pride, or worldly distractions—that prevent me from bearing fruit? The moral lesson is clear: our response to God’s Word determines the depth of our relationship with Him. Let us pray for the grace to cultivate hearts that are receptive, humble, and generous, so that we may bear fruit in abundance and live as true disciples of Christ.