Daily Readings - Wed Jan 23 2019
Hebrews
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.17For it is witnessed of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."
Mark
1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.2And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.3And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here."4And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on priesthood and service. The first reading from Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who appears in the Old Testament as both a king and a priest. His priesthood is unique because it is not tied to lineage or ritual but is eternal, resembling the priesthood of Jesus Christ. This passage highlights the idea that true priesthood is not about rules or traditions but about bringing life and blessings to others. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus as the ultimate priest who defies legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath to heal a man with a withered hand. Jesus’ actions challenge the Pharisees’ narrow understanding of God’s law, showing that true priesthood is about compassion, restoration, and serving others.
The context of these readings is crucial. Hebrews is part of a larger argument about the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. By comparing Jesus to Melchizedek, the author emphasizes that Christ’s priesthood is eternal and universal, transcending human limitations. In Mark’s Gospel, the healing on the Sabbath is a pivotal moment that reveals the growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. While they focus on rules, Jesus focuses on people, demonstrating that God’s law is meant to bring life, not restrict it.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our own calling as disciples of Christ. Like Melchizedek and Jesus, we are called to be priests in our own way—serving others, bringing healing, and challenging systems that prioritize rules over people. In our daily lives, we can ask ourselves: Am I using my time and talents to restore and uplift others? Am I willing to challenge structures that hinder compassion and justice? Let us follow Jesus’ example, choosing to act with love and mercy, even when it means going against the status quo. True priesthood, as these readings show, is not about power or prestige but about selfless service and bringing God’s life to the world.