Daily Readings - Tue Jan 17 2023
Hebrews
10For God is not unjust, such that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown in his name. For you have ministered, and you continue to minister, to the saints11Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end12so that you may not be slow to act, but instead may be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, shall inherit the promises13For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear)14saying: "Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.15And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise16For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy17In this matter, God, wanting to reveal more thoroughly the immutability of his counsel to the heirs of the promise, interposed an oath18so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest solace: we who have fled together so as to hold fast to the hope set before us19This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil20to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek
Mark
23And again, while the Lord was walking through the ripe grain on the Sabbath, his disciples, as they advanced, began to separate the ears of grains24But the Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?25And he said to them: "Have you never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, both he and those who were with him26How he went into the house of God, under the high priest Abiathar, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and how he gave it to those who were with him?27And he said to them: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath28And so, the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about faith, hope, and the nature of God’s law. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that God is always faithful to His promises, even when the journey is long and challenging. The author encourages us to persevere in hope, just as Abraham did, trusting that God’s promises are unshakable. This passage emphasizes the importance of patience and faith as we walk the path of discipleship, knowing that our efforts to love and serve others are not forgotten by God.
The Gospel from Mark presents a moment of tension between tradition and compassion. Jesus and His disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, but Jesus responds by reminding them that the Sabbath was created for humanity’s benefit, not to impose unnecessary burdens. He references David’s actions when he and his men were in need, showing that even the sacred laws of God must be understood in the context of human need and compassion. Jesus’ words challenge us to think deeply about the purpose of rules and traditions, ensuring that they serve the greater good rather than becoming ends in themselves.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. From Hebrews, we learn the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s promises, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. From Mark, we are reminded that our actions should always be guided by love and compassion, rather than rigid adherence to rules. Let us strive to be people of hope and patience, trusting in God’s faithfulness, and let us approach life with the flexibility to serve others, just as Jesus did. May we always remember that our faith is not about following rules for their own sake, but about living in a way that reflects God’s love and mercy.