Daily Readings - Tue Jan 24 2023
Hebrews
1For the law contains the shadow of future good things, not the very image of these things. So, by the very same sacrifices which they offer ceaselessly each year, they can never cause these to approach perfection2Otherwise, they would have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer be conscious of any sin3Instead, in these things, a commemoration of sins is made every year4For it is impossible for sins to be taken away by the blood of oxen and goats5For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: "Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me6Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you7Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.8In the above, by saying, "Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law9then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ " he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows10For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus Christ
Mark
31And his mother and brothers arrived. And standing outside, they sent to him, calling him32And the crowd was sitting around him. And they said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.33And responding to them, he said, "Who is my mother and my brothers?34And looking around at those who were sitting all around him, he said: "Behold, my mother and my brothers35For whoever has done the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister and mother.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of sacrifice and family, guiding us to a deeper understanding of our relationship with God and one another. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded that the old covenant's sacrifices, though symbolic, could never fully remove sin. They were mere shadows of the perfect sacrifice that Christ would offer. Christ's sacrifice, once for all, fulfilled God's will and sanctified us, showing that true worship is not about rituals but about obedience to God's will.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus redefining family. When his biological relatives come to him, Jesus expands the concept of family to include all who do God's will. This teaches us that our spiritual bonds can be as strong as, or even stronger than, our biological ties. It emphasizes that following God's will is what truly unites us as His family.
These readings connect in their focus on God's will. Hebrews highlights Christ's perfect obedience, while Mark shows Jesus living out that obedience and redefining family. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing spiritual relationships and living according to God's will. The moral lesson is clear: our spiritual bonds and commitment to God's will are paramount. Let us strive to live in such a way that we become part of God's family, united through faith and obedience.