Daily Readings - Sat Feb 09 2019
Hebrews
15Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,21equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Mark
30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.31And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of balance and compassion in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Hebrews encourages us to offer praise to God through our words and actions, emphasizing the value of good works and fellowship. It also urges us to obey our leaders and support them, as they guide us in our faith. The second reading from Mark illustrates Jesus's compassion as He teaches the crowd, who are like sheep without a shepherd, after the Apostles return from their mission.
The context of these readings highlights early Christian communities' challenges. Hebrews was written to encourage believers to remain faithful amidst trials, while Mark's passage shows Jesus's response to the Apostles' need for rest and the crowd's need for guidance. Both readings connect through themes of leadership and care: Hebrews focuses on the role of leaders, and Mark shows Jesus leading by example with compassion.
Applying this to our lives, we are reminded to balance rest and service. Just as Jesus taught the Apostles to rest, we too need moments of reflection. Additionally, we are called to lead or follow with compassion, supporting one another as the early Church did. The moral lesson here is the importance of finding balance and leading with kindness, mirroring Jesus's example. By doing so, we can serve others compassionately while nurturing our own spiritual well-being.