Daily Readings - Sat Feb 06 2021
Hebrews
15Therefore, through him, let us offer the sacrifice of continual praise to God, which is the fruit of lips confessing his name16But do not be willing to forget good works and fellowship. For God is deserving of such sacrifices17Obey your leaders and be subject to them. For they watch over you, as if to render an account of your souls. So then, may they do this with joy, and not with grief. Otherwise, it would not be as helpful to you20Then may the God of peace, who led back from the dead that great Pastor of sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the blood of the eternal testament21equip you with all goodness, so that you may do his will. May he accomplish in you whatever is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen
Mark
30And the Apostles, returning to Jesus, reported to him everything that they had done and taught31And he said to them, "Go out alone, into a deserted place, and rest for a little while." For there were so many who were coming and going, that they did not even have time to eat32And climbing into a boat, they went away to a deserted place alone33And they saw them going away, and many knew about it. And together they ran by foot from all the cities, and they arrived before them34And Jesus, going out, saw a great multitude. And he took pity on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the balance between rest and service, as well as the nature of compassionate leadership. The first reading from Hebrews encourages us to offer sacrifices of praise to God through our words and actions, emphasizing the importance of community and obedience to our spiritual leaders. The author prays for God's peace and empowerment to live according to His will. This passage reminds us that our worship is not just individual but communal, and our faith is lived out in good works and fellowship.
The Gospel from Mark presents a complementary message. After the Apostles return from their missionary work, Jesus invites them to rest in a deserted place. Yet, when they arrive, they find a crowd seeking Jesus. Instead of turning them away, Jesus takes pity on them and teaches them. This passage highlights Jesus' compassionate leadership and the importance of balancing rest with service. Just as the Apostles needed rest, we too need moments of renewal, but we are also called to respond to the needs of others with compassion.
These readings remind us that our faith is both about rest and service, trust and action. In our daily lives, we are called to create spaces for rest and renewal, just as Jesus did for his disciples. At the same time, we are to look out for those around us, offering them the same compassion and guidance that Jesus showed to the crowd. Let us strive to live this balance, trusting in God's peace and grace to equip us for whatever He calls us to do. May we, like Jesus, be sources of hope and healing for those around us.