Daily Readings - Tue Jan 15 2019
Hebrews
5Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.6It has been testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?7You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,8putting everything in subjection under his feet."Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.10For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.11For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,12saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
Mark
21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.22And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,24"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God."25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the authority and mission of Jesus Christ, as well as our own place within God’s plan. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear a profound meditation on the dignity of humanity and the role of Jesus as the one who brings salvation. The author of Hebrews reminds us that God has crowned humanity with glory and honor, placing us just below the angels, but it is through Jesus that we understand the fullness of this dignity. Jesus, who was made “a little less than the angels,” took on human flesh, suffered, and died to bring salvation to all. This passage emphasizes that Jesus is not only our savior but also our brother, sharing in our humanity and sanctifying us through his Passion.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. The people are astonished at his authority, for he teaches not like the scribes but as one who has true power. This authority is demonstrated when Jesus confronts an unclean spirit in the synagogue. The spirit recognizes Jesus as the “Holy One of God” and is cast out by Jesus’ command. This event shows that Jesus’ authority extends not only to teaching but also to the spiritual realm, as he has power over evil itself. The crowd is amazed, and Jesus’ fame spreads throughout Galilee. This passage highlights the uniqueness of Jesus’ mission and the impact of his presence in the world.
These readings are deeply connected. The letter to the Hebrews explains the theological significance of Jesus’ mission, while the Gospel from Mark shows that mission in action. Together, they remind us that Jesus is both the savior who brings us closer to God and the one who has authority over all things, including the forces of evil. In our daily lives, we are called to recognize Jesus’ authority and to trust in his power to transform our lives. Just as the people in Capernaum were amazed by Jesus’ teaching and actions, we too can experience his transformative power if we open our hearts to him. Let us strive to live as children of God, aware of our dignity and our mission to bring God’s love into the world.