Daily Readings - Wed Feb 03 2021
Hebrews
4For you have not yet resisted unto blood, while striving against sin5And you have forgotten the consolation which speaks to you like sons, saying: "My son, do not be willing to neglect the discipline of the Lord. Neither should you become weary, while being rebuked by him.6For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges7Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct11Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it12Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees13and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed14Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God15Be contemplative, lest anyone lack the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and impede you, and by it, many might be defiled
Mark
1And departing from there, he went away to his own country; and his disciples followed him2And when the Sabbath arrived, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many, upon hearing him, were amazed at his doctrine, saying: "Where did this one get all these things?" and, "What is this wisdom, which has been given to him?" and, "Such powerful deeds, which are wrought by his hands!3"Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? Are not his sisters also here with us?" And they took great offense at him4And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.5And he was not able to perform any miracles there, except that he cured a few of the infirm by laying his hands on them6And he wondered, because of their unbelief, and he traveled around in the villages, teaching
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about faith, humility, and the challenges of living a life pleasing to God. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that discipline is an essential part of our spiritual journey. The author encourages us to persevere through trials, understanding them as a sign of God’s love and a means of growing in holiness. Just as a father corrects his children, God disciplines us to help us become the people He created us to be. This discipline may be uncomfortable or even painful, but it ultimately leads to peace and justice in our lives. The reading also warns us against bitterness and the importance of pursuing sanctity, without which we cannot see God.
The Gospel from Mark provides a vivid example of how even Jesus, the Son of God, faced rejection and unbelief. Returning to His hometown, Jesus was met with skepticism and offense because the people could not see beyond His humble beginnings as a carpenter’s son. Despite His wisdom and the miracles He performed, they refused to accept Him, limiting His ability to work wonders among them. This passage reminds us that faith is often hindered by our own limited perspectives and preconceptions. Like the people of Nazareth, we risk missing out on the grace and miracles God wants to work in our lives when we allow unbelief or pride to harden our hearts.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and how we respond to challenges and setbacks. Are we open to the discipline of the Lord, trusting that it is for our good? Do we allow our own biases or doubts to prevent us from seeing God’s work in our lives and in the world around us? Let us ask for the grace to embrace humility and faith, trusting that God’s plan for us is always one of love and transformation. May we, like Jesus, persevere in the face of rejection and continue to walk in the path of peace and holiness, knowing that true fruitfulness comes from trusting in God’s providence.