Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 21, 2023

First Reading: Hebrews 9.2-3, 11-14

²For a tabernacle was made at first, in which were the lampstand, and the table, and the bread of the Presence, which is called Holy³Then, beyond the second veil, was the tabernacle, which is called the Holy of Holies¹¹But Christ, standing as the High Priest of future good things, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, one not made by hand, that is, not of this creation¹²entered once into the Holy of Holies, having obtained eternal redemption, neither by the blood of goats, nor of calves, but by his own blood¹³For if the blood of goats and oxen, and the ashes of a calf, when these are sprinkled, sanctify those who have been defiled, in order to cleanse the flesh¹⁴how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit has offered himself, immaculate, to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, in order to serve the living God

Psalm 47

Psalms

Chapter 47

¹Unto the end. A Psalm for the sons of Korah. All nations, clap your hands. Shout joyfully to God with a voice of exultation²For the Lord is exalted and terrible: a great King over all the earth³He has subjected the peoples to us and subdued the nations under our feet⁴He has chosen us for his inheritance: the splendor of Jacob, whom he has loved⁵God ascends with jubilation, and the Lord with the voice of the trumpet⁶Sing psalms to our God, sing psalms. Sing psalms to our King, sing psalms⁷For God is the King of all the earth. Sing psalms wisely⁸God will reign over the peoples. God sits upon his holy throne⁹The leaders of the peoples have been gathered together by the God of Abraham. For the strong gods of the earth have been exceedingly exalted

Gospel: Mark 3.20-21

Mark

Chapter 3

²⁰And they went to a house, and the crowd gathered together again, so much so that they were not even able to eat bread²¹And when his own had heard of it, they went out to take hold of him. For they said: "Because he has gone mad.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and the challenges of following Him in our own lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear about the tabernacle and the Holy of Holies, a sacred space where only the high priest could enter once a year to offer sacrifices for the people. The author contrasts this with Christ, who enters not into a man-made tabernacle but into heaven itself, offering His own blood as the perfect sacrifice for our redemption. This passage emphasizes the superiority of Christ’s priesthood and the eternal redemption He has won for us. In the Gospel, Mark describes a scene where Jesus’ family tries to intervene because the crowd around Him has become so large that He cannot even eat. They think He has gone mad, but Jesus remains focused on His mission. This passage highlights the tension between human expectations and God’s plan. Jesus’ family, though well-intentioned, does not yet fully understand His divine mission, and their concern reflects the confusion and skepticism that often accompany God’s work in the world. Together, these readings remind us that following Christ requires faith and trust, even when circumstances seem chaotic or misunderstood. Just as Christ entered the Holy of Holies to offer the ultimate sacrifice, we are called to surrender our lives to God’s plan, trusting that His ways are greater than our own. In our daily lives, this means persevering through challenges, remaining committed to our faith, and trusting that God is at work, even when things seem unclear. Let us strive to imitate Christ’s dedication and trust in the Father, knowing that His sacrifice has given us eternal life and the strength to follow Him.