Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 24, 2025
First Reading: Hebrews 8.6-13
6But now he has been granted a better ministry, so much so that he is also the Mediator of a better testament, which has been confirmed by better promises7For if the former one had been entirely without fault, then a place certainly would not have been sought for a subsequent one8For, finding fault with them, he says: "Behold, the days shall arrive, says the Lord, when I will consummate a New Testament over the house of Israel and the house of Judah9not according to the testament which I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand, so that I might lead them away from the land of Egypt. For they did not remain in my testament, and so I disregarded them, says the Lord10For this is the testament which I will set before the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord. I will instill my laws in their minds, and I will inscribe my laws on their hearts. And so, I will be their God, and they shall be my people11And they will not teach, each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, saying: ‘Know the Lord.’ For all shall know me, from the least, even to the greatest of them12For I will forgive their iniquities, and I will no longer remember their sins.13Now in saying something new, he has made the former old. But that which decays and grows old is close to passing away
Psalm 85
1Unto the end. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. O Lord, you have blessed your land. You have turned aside the captivity of Jacob2You have released the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sins3You have mitigated all your wrath. You have turned aside from the wrath of your indignation4Convert us, O God, our Savior, and turn your anger away from us5Will you be angry with us forever? And will you extend your wrath from generation to generation6O God, you will turn back and revive us. And your people will rejoice in you7O Lord, reveal to us your mercy, and grant to us your salvation8I will listen to what the Lord God may be saying to me. For he will speak peace to his people, and to his saints, and to those who are being converted to the heart9So then, truly his salvation is near to those who fear him, so that glory may inhabit our land10Mercy and truth have met each other. Justice and peace have kissed11Truth has risen from the earth, and justice has gazed down from heaven12For so will the Lord give goodness, and our earth will give her fruit13Justice will walk before him, and he will set his steps upon the way
Gospel: Mark 3.13-19
13And ascending onto a mountain, he called to himself those whom he willed, and they came to him14And he acted so that the twelve would be with him, and so that he might send them out to preach15And he gave them authority to cure infirmities, and to cast out demons16and he imposed on Simon the name Peter17and also he imposed on James of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, the name ‘Boanerges,’ that is, ‘Sons of Thunder;18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on God’s covenant with humanity and the call to discipleship. The first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of a new and better covenant established by God, one that surpasses the old. This covenant is not written on stone tablets but inscribed on human hearts, promising a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. The old covenant, though good, was limited, and God’s plan was always to fulfill it with something greater. The Gospel from Mark then shifts our focus to the mission of Jesus, who gathers his twelve apostles, empowering them to preach and heal. This passage emphasizes the importance of community and the call to participate in God’s work of redemption.
The connection between these readings lies in the theme of God’s plan unfolding through covenant and mission. The new covenant in Hebrews finds its fulfillment in the community of believers formed by Jesus in Mark. Just as the old covenant was a stepping stone to the new, the apostles represent the beginning of a new people of God, called to live out the teachings of Christ. This relationship highlights the continuity of God’s plan and the central role of community in living out the faith.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live as people of the new covenant. We are called to be a community on mission, just like the apostles, using our unique gifts and talents to share God’s love with the world. The moral lesson here is one of trust and commitment. Just as the apostles trusted Jesus and followed his call, we too must trust in God’s plan and remain faithful to our mission. Let us ask ourselves: Am I living as a new covenant person, with God’s laws inscribed on my heart? Am I part of a community that reflects God’s love and mercy? May we embrace our role in God’s plan, trusting that He will guide us as we strive to live out the Gospel in our daily lives.