Daily Readings - Mon Jan 23 2023
Hebrews
15And thus he is the Mediator of the new testament, so that, by his death, he intercedes for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, so that those who have been called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance24For Jesus did not enter by means of holy things made with hands, mere examples of the true things, but he entered into Heaven itself, so that he may appear now before the face of God for us25And he did not enter so as to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies each year, with the blood of another26Otherwise, he would need to have suffered repeatedly since the beginning of the world. But now, one time, at the consummation of the ages, he has appeared in order to destroy sin though his own sacrifice27And in the same manner as it has been appointed for men to die one time, and after this, to be judged28so also Christ was offered, one time, in order to empty the sins of so many. He shall appear a second time without sin, for those who await him, unto salvation
Mark
22And the scribes who had descended from Jerusalem said, "Because he has Beelzebub, and because by the prince of demons does he cast out demons.23And having called them together, he spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan24For if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom is not able to stand25And if a house is divided against itself, that house is not able to stand26And if Satan has risen up against himself, he would be divided, and he would not be able to stand; instead he reaches the end27No one is able to plunder the goods of a strong man, having entered into the house, unless he first binds the strong man, and then he shall plunder his house28Amen I say to you, that all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and the blasphemies by which they will have blasphemed29But he who will have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit shall not have forgiveness in eternity; instead he shall be guilty of an eternal offense.30For they said: "He has an unclean spirit.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on God's power and redemption. The first reading from Hebrews presents Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant, whose singular sacrifice once and for all redeems our transgressions. This text emphasizes that Jesus's death was sufficient to destroy sin, contrasting it with the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant. It invites us to trust in the completeness of Christ's work, assuring us that His sacrifice was enough for our salvation.
The Gospel from Mark shifts our focus to Jesus's ministry, where He faces accusations from the scribes who attribute His power to Beelzebub. Jesus counters this by illustrating the illogic of a divided kingdom and introduces the metaphor of binding the strong man, symbolizing His triumph over Satan. Crucially, He warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, highlighting the gravity of rejecting God's work in our lives. This serves as a reminder to remain open to the Holy Spirit's guidance and to avoid a hardened heart that refuses God's truth.
Together, these readings connect through their themes of redemption and the consequences of rejection. Hebrews underscores the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, while Mark warns against the spiritual peril of rejecting God's work. In our daily lives, this calls us to trust in God's plan and to remain attentive to the Holy Spirit's presence. Let us approach life with humility, embracing God's grace and avoiding the temptation to dismiss His active role in our world. May we find hope in Christ's sacrifice and remain vigilant against the dangers of a spirit that resists God's love.