Daily Readings - Tue Jan 14 2025
Hebrews
5For God did not subject the future world, about which we are speaking, to the Angels6But someone, in a certain place, has testified, saying: "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the Son of man, that you visit him7You have reduced him to a little less than the Angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and you have set him over the works of your hands8You have subjected all things under his feet." For in as much as he has subjected all things to him, he has left nothing not subject to him. But in the present time, we do not yet perceive that all things have been made subject to him9Yet we understand that Jesus, who was reduced to a little less than the Angels, was crowned with glory and honor because of his Passion and death, in order that, by the grace of God, he might taste death for all10For it was fitting for him, because of whom and through whom all things exist, who had led many children into glory, to complete the authorship of their salvation through his Passion11For he who sanctifies, and those who are sanctified, are all from One. For this reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying12"I will announce your name to my brothers. In the midst of the Church, I will praise you.
Mark
21And they entered into Capernaum. And entering into the synagogue promptly on the Sabbaths, he taught them22And they were astonished over his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not like the scribes23And in their synagogue, there was a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out24saying: "What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.25And Jesus admonished him, saying, "Be silent, and depart from the man.26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, departed from him27And they were all so amazed that they inquired among themselves, saying: "What is this? And what is this new doctrine? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.28And his fame went out quickly, throughout the entire region of Galilee
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the dignity of humanity and the authority of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded that God has crowned humanity with glory and honor, placing us just below the angels. Yet, it is through Jesus Christ, who was made "a little less than the angels," that we find our true purpose and salvation. His Passion and death demonstrate the depth of God’s love and the completion of our salvation. The reading emphasizes that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters, showing the intimate bond he shares with us.
In the Gospel, Mark describes a scene where Jesus teaches in the synagogue with authority, astonishing the people. When a man with an unclean spirit cries out, Jesus commands the spirit to leave, and it obeys. This passage highlights Jesus’ divine authority over even the forces of evil. The people are amazed, not only by his teaching but also by his power to cast out demons. This demonstrates that Jesus’ authority is not just in words but in actions, revealing his identity as the Holy One of God.
These readings remind us that we are called to live with faith and courage, trusting in God’s plan for us. Just as Jesus exercised authority over the unclean spirit, we too can trust in his power to guide us through the challenges of life. The moral lesson here is to recognize our dignity as children of God and to rely on Jesus’ authority and grace to overcome sin and evil. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our identity as brothers and sisters of Christ, praising God in the midst of our lives.