Daily Readings - Fri Jan 18 2019
Hebrews
1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'"although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."5And again in this passage he said, "They shall not enter my rest."11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Mark
1And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.2And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.3And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.4And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.5And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,7"Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts?9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic--11"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home."12And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on faith and God's grace. The first reading from Hebrews invites us to consider the rest that God promises, a rest that is not merely physical but deeply spiritual. It warns us against the dangers of unbelief, which can prevent us from fully embracing this divine gift. The context of this passage is a reminder to early Christians, and by extension to us, that faith is essential to entering into God's rest. The author emphasizes that hearing the word is not enough; it must be accompanied by faith to be transformative.
The Gospel from Mark vividly illustrates this theme through the story of the paralytic man. Jesus' authority to forgive sins and heal is on full display, challenging the skepticism of the scribes. The context here is one of tension between traditional religious authority and the radical message of Jesus. The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on faith as the bridge between God's grace and human experience. In Mark, the faith of the friends who carry the paralytic leads to his healing, much like the faith required to enter God's rest in Hebrews.
Applying these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded of the importance of trusting in God's plan and His power to transform us. Just as the paralytic man needed others to carry him to Jesus, we may need the support of others in our journey of faith. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not passive but active, requiring us to step out in trust, even when the path is uncertain. Let us, therefore, approach life with the faith that opens us to God's rest and healing, recognizing His presence in every moment.