Daily Readings - Sat Jan 28 2023
Hebrews
1Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent2For this reason, the ancients were given testimony8By faith, the one called Abraham obeyed, going out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going9By faith, he stayed in the Land of the Promise as if in a foreign land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise10For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God11By faith also, Sarah herself, being barren, received the ability to conceive offspring, even though she was past that age in life. For she believed him to be faithful, who had promised12Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a mulititude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable13All of these passed away, adhering to faith, not having received the promises, yet beholding them from afar and saluting them, and confessing themselves to be sojourners and guests upon the earth14For those who speak in this way are themselves indicating that they seek a homeland15And if, indeed, they had been mindful of the very place from which they departed, they certainly would have returned in time16But now they hunger for a better place, that is, Heaven. For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a city for them17By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, so that he who had received the promises was offering up his only son18To him, it was said, "Through Isaac, shall your offspring be summoned,19indicating that God is even able to raise up from the dead. And thus, he also established him as a parable
Mark
35And on that day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, "Let us cross over.36And dismissing the crowd, they brought him, so that he was in one boat, and other boats were with him37And a great wind storm occurred, and the waves broke over the boat, so that the boat was being filled38And he was in the stern of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, does it not concern you that we are perishing?39And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and he said to the sea: "Silence. Be stilled." And the wind ceased. And a great tranquility occurred40And he said to them: "Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?"41And they were struck with a great fear. And they said to one another, "Who do you think this is, that both wind and sea obey him?"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and trust in God, even in the face of uncertainty and turmoil. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear about the nature of faith as the "substance of things hoped for" and "the evidence of things not seen." The author highlights the example of Abraham, who obeyed God's call to leave his homeland without knowing where he was going. Abraham's faith was not about having all the answers but trusting in God's promises, even when the future seemed unclear. Similarly, Sarah's faith allowed her to conceive a child in her old age, despite the impossibility of it from a human perspective. The reading reminds us that faith is not about seeing the full picture but trusting in God's plan and His faithfulness.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a dramatic scene where Jesus calms a storm while He and His disciples are on a boat. The disciples, caught in a fierce wind and waves, fear for their lives, while Jesus is seemingly indifferent, sleeping in the stern. When they wake Him, He rebukes the wind and the sea, restoring calm. Jesus' question to the disciples—"Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?"—challenges them (and us) to trust in His presence and power, even in the midst of chaos. This story underscores the importance of faith in times of doubt and fear, reminding us that God is always with us, even when we feel abandoned or overwhelmed.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the necessity of faith in navigating life's uncertainties. Abraham trusted God's promise without knowing the details, just as the disciples were called to trust in Jesus' presence and power during the storm. For us, this means that when we face our own "storms"—whether personal struggles, fears, or uncertainties—we are invited to place our trust in God. Like Abraham, we may not see the full picture, but we can trust that God is faithful and that His plan is at work. Like the disciples, we are reminded that even in the midst of turmoil, God is with us, and we need not be afraid. Let us strive to deepen our faith, trusting in God's love and providence, even when the road ahead seems unclear.