Daily Readings - Tue Jan 21 2025
Hebrews
10For God is not unjust, such that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown in his name. For you have ministered, and you continue to minister, to the saints11Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end12so that you may not be slow to act, but instead may be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, shall inherit the promises13For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear)14saying: "Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.15And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise16For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy17In this matter, God, wanting to reveal more thoroughly the immutability of his counsel to the heirs of the promise, interposed an oath18so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest solace: we who have fled together so as to hold fast to the hope set before us19This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil20to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek
Mark
23And again, while the Lord was walking through the ripe grain on the Sabbath, his disciples, as they advanced, began to separate the ears of grains24But the Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?25And he said to them: "Have you never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, both he and those who were with him26How he went into the house of God, under the high priest Abiathar, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and how he gave it to those who were with him?27And he said to them: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath28And so, the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons about faith, trust, and the spirit of the law. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness and the importance of perseverance. It reminds us that our efforts in serving others and living in faith are not in vain, as God promises to reward those who trust Him. The passage also highlights Jesus as our High Priest, who intercedes for us, providing an unshakable hope.
The Gospel from Mark presents a scenario where Jesus challenges the traditional understanding of the Sabbath. When the Pharisees question the disciples' actions, Jesus uses the example of David to illustrate that human needs sometimes require flexibility. He asserts that the Sabbath was created for humanity's benefit, not the other way around. This teaches us to focus on the spirit of the law rather than its rigid application.
Both readings encourage us to trust in God's plan and remain faithful, even when faced with challenges. They remind us to be adaptable and compassionate, understanding that religious practices should enhance our relationship with God rather than become a burden. The moral lesson here is one of trust and adaptability, urging us to follow God's will with perseverance and an open heart.