Daily Readings - Tue Jan 22 2019
Hebrews
10For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,14saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."15And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Mark
23One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.24And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"25And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him:26how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?"27And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring nature of God’s promises and the importance of understanding the purpose behind religious practices. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes God’s faithfulness and the hope we have in Him. The author encourages us to persevere in our faith, just as Abraham did, trusting in God’s promises even when the journey is long and uncertain. The reading also highlights the role of patience and faith as essential virtues for inheriting the promises of God. The Gospel from Mark presents a moment of tension between Jesus and the Pharisees over the observance of the Sabbath. Jesus defends His disciples’ actions by pointing to the true purpose of the Sabbath: it was made for the benefit of humanity, not to impose unnecessary restrictions. He even cites the example of David, who broke a sacred rule to meet a human need, to show that compassion and human well-being should take precedence over rigid legalism.
The readings are connected by the theme of trusting in God’s plan and understanding the spirit behind His laws. In Hebrews, we see that God’s promises are unshakable, and we are called to live with hope and perseverance. In Mark, Jesus teaches us that religious practices should serve humanity, not the other way around. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith: do we trust in God’s faithfulness, even when the path is unclear? Do we approach religious practices with a spirit of compassion and humanity, or do we get caught up in legalism?
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember to trust in God’s promises and to live with patience and hope. Let us also examine our own practices and attitudes, ensuring that they reflect the compassion and love that Jesus modeled. May we, like the disciples, be willing to step out in faith, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own understanding. And may we, like Jesus, prioritize the well-being of others, remembering that the rules and traditions we follow were made to serve us, not to bind us.