Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 28, 2025
First Reading: Hebrews 10.1-10
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
Psalm 40
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself. I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me2And he heard my prayers and he led me out of the pit of misery and the quagmire. And he stationed my feet upon a rock, and he directed my steps3And he sent a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord4Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has no respect for vanities and absurd falsehoods5You have accomplished your many wonders, O Lord my God, and there is no one similar to you in your thoughts. I have announced and I have spoken: they are multiplied beyond number6Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have perfected ears for me. Holocaust and sin offering, you did not require7Then I said, "Behold, I draw near." At the head of the book, it has been written of me8that I should do your will. My God, I have willed it. And your law is in the midst of my heart9I have announced your justice in a great Church: behold, I will not restrain my lips. O Lord, you have known it10I have not concealed your justice within my heart. I have spoken your truth and your salvation. I have not concealed your mercy and your truth from a great assembly11O Lord, do not take your tender mercies far from me. Your mercy and your truth ever sustain me12For evils without number have surrounded me. My iniquities have taken hold of me, and I was not able to see. They have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head. And my heart has forsaken me13Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me. Look down, O Lord, to help me14Let them together be confounded and awed, who seek after my soul to steal it away. Let them be turned back and be in awe, who wish evils upon me15Let them bear their confusion all at once, who say to me, "Well, well.16Let all who seek you exult and rejoice over you. And let those who love your salvation always say, "May the Lord be magnified.17But I am a beggar and poor. The Lord has been concerned about me. You are my helper and my protector. My God, do not delay
Gospel: Mark 3.31-35
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 the true meaning of family. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear that the sacrifices of the old covenant, though well-intentioned, could never fully remove sin. They were merely shadows of the perfect sacrifice that was to come. Christ, by offering his own body once and for all, fulfilled God’s will and sanctified us in a way that animal sacrifices never could. This passage reminds us that our salvation is not through outward rituals but through the self-giving love of Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a moment where Jesus redefines family. When his mother and brothers come to find him, Jesus expands the concept of family beyond blood ties. He looks at the crowd and says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother.” This is not a rejection of his earthly family but a profound statement about the spiritual bonds that unite us. True family is not just about flesh and blood but about sharing a common purpose and commitment to God’s will.
These readings challenge us to live our faith in a way that goes beyond superficial practices or biological connections. They call us to embrace a deeper understanding of sacrifice and family. Just as Christ’s sacrifice was not about external rituals but about love and obedience, our lives should be shaped by a genuine commitment to God’s will. Similarly, our sense of belonging should extend beyond our immediate circles to include all those who seek to live according to God’s plan. May we strive to be part of this spiritual family, united by our shared purpose and love for God.