Daily Readings - Thu Jan 28 2021
Hebrews
19And so, brothers, have faith in the entrance into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ20and in the new and living Way, which he has initiated for us by the veil, that is, by his flesh21and in the Great Priest over the house of God22So, let us draw near with a true heart, in the fullness of faith, having hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and bodies absolved with clean water23Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope, without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful24And let us be considerate of one another, so as to prompt ourselves to charity and to good works25not deserting our assembly, as some are accustomed to do, but consoling one another, and even more so as you see that the day is approaching
Mark
21And he said to them: "Would someone enter with a lamp in order to place it under a basket or under a bed? Would it not be placed upon a lampstand22For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Neither was anything done in secret, except that it may be made public23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.24And he said to them: "Consider what you hear. With whatever measure you have measured out, it shall be measured back to you, and more shall be added to you25For whoever has, to him it shall be given. And whoever has not, from him even what he has shall be taken away.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound truths about our faith and our responsibilities as followers of Christ. The first reading from Hebrews invites us to embrace the access we have to God through Christ's sacrifice, urging us to approach Him with sincerity and to support one another in our journey of faith. The Gospel from Mark challenges us to live openly and responsibly, using the gifts and talents we have been given, and to be mindful of the impact of our actions.
The context of Hebrews is a letter to early Christians, reassuring them of their direct access to God through Christ's sacrifice and emphasizing the importance of community and perseverance. Mark's passage, part of Jesus' teachings, uses the parable of the lamp to highlight the necessity of living openly and the consequences of our choices. Both readings, though from different contexts, share a common theme of openness and responsibility.
These teachings call us to live our faith openly, not hiding our light, and to use our resources wisely. They remind us that our actions have consequences and that we are to support one another in our spiritual journeys. The moral lesson here is to embrace our faith with openness and responsibility, using our gifts to serve others and to build a supportive community. Let us strive to live in such a way that reflects the light of Christ, encouraging and uplifting those around us.