Daily Readings - Thu Feb 07 2019
Hebrews
18For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest19and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Mark
7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.8He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in their belts--9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.10And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.11And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."12So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.13And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded of the stark contrast between the terrifying experience of encountering God at Mount Sinai and the hopeful, joyful assembly of the heavenly Jerusalem. The author paints a vivid picture of the fear and awe that came with the presence of God in the Old Testament, but then shifts our gaze to the New Covenant, where we are invited into a spiritual community of saints, angels, and the living God. This passage encourages us to see ourselves as part of a larger, eternal story, one that transcends the fears and uncertainties of this world.
In the Gospel, Mark recounts Jesus sending out the twelve apostles two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits and instructing them on how to conduct their mission. Jesus tells them to travel simply, without extra provisions, and to rely on the hospitality of others. He also warns them that not everyone will accept their message, but they are to shake off the dust from their feet as a sign of judgment against those who refuse to listen. This passage emphasizes trust in God’s providence and boldness in sharing the message of repentance and healing. It reminds us that following Christ means stepping out in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust and reliance on God. The apostles were sent out with little, but they were given great authority and saw remarkable results because they trusted in Jesus’ words. Similarly, the Hebrews reading calls us to trust in the promise of a heavenly inheritance, one that far surpasses the terrors and uncertainties of this life. For us today, these readings invite us to examine our own trust in God. Are we willing to step out in faith, even when we feel unprepared or uncertain? Do we live with the hope and assurance of being part of a spiritual community that endures beyond this life? Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to live boldly as disciples of Christ, sharing His message of love and redemption with a world in need.