Daily Readings - Sat Jan 30 2021
Hebrews
1Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent2For this reason, the ancients were given testimony8By faith, the one called Abraham obeyed, going out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going9By faith, he stayed in the Land of the Promise as if in a foreign land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise10For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God11By faith also, Sarah herself, being barren, received the ability to conceive offspring, even though she was past that age in life. For she believed him to be faithful, who had promised12Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a mulititude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable13All of these passed away, adhering to faith, not having received the promises, yet beholding them from afar and saluting them, and confessing themselves to be sojourners and guests upon the earth14For those who speak in this way are themselves indicating that they seek a homeland15And if, indeed, they had been mindful of the very place from which they departed, they certainly would have returned in time16But now they hunger for a better place, that is, Heaven. For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a city for them17By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, so that he who had received the promises was offering up his only son18To him, it was said, "Through Isaac, shall your offspring be summoned,19indicating that God is even able to raise up from the dead. And thus, he also established him as a parable
Mark
35And on that day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, "Let us cross over.36And dismissing the crowd, they brought him, so that he was in one boat, and other boats were with him37And a great wind storm occurred, and the waves broke over the boat, so that the boat was being filled38And he was in the stern of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, does it not concern you that we are perishing?39And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and he said to the sea: "Silence. Be stilled." And the wind ceased. And a great tranquility occurred40And he said to them: "Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?"41And they were struck with a great fear. And they said to one another, "Who do you think this is, that both wind and sea obey him?"
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the essence of faith and its practical implications in our lives. The first reading from Hebrews delves into the nature of faith, defining it as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. Through the examples of Abraham and Sarah, we see faith in action—trusting in God's promises despite uncertainty and impossibility. Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac and Sarah's belief in conceiving despite her age illustrate unwavering trust in God's plan. This passage reminds us that faith is not about seeing the outcome but trusting the process.
The Gospel from Mark complements this by presenting a vivid scenario where Jesus calms a storm, demonstrating His divine authority. The disciples, though fearful, learn a crucial lesson about faith. Jesus' question, "Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?" challenges them (and us) to reflect on our trust in God. This miracle story shows that true faith leads to recognizing God's presence and power, even in turmoil.
Connecting these readings, we see that faith is both a belief in the unseen and a trust in God's providence amidst life's storms. In our daily lives, we face challenges that test our faith, but like Abraham and the disciples, we are called to trust in God's plan. The moral lesson here is clear: cultivate faith by trusting God, even when the path is uncertain. Let us embrace this trust, knowing that God is always with us, guiding us through life's tempests.