Daily Readings - Wed Jan 20 2021
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 profound reflections on priesthood and service. The first reading from Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who is both king and priest, without genealogy or end. This enigmatic character is likened to the Son of God, emphasizing Jesus' eternal priesthood. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus challenging the Pharisees' strict observance of the Sabbath by healing a man with a withered hand, highlighting the importance of compassion over legalism.
The context of Hebrews is a theological explanation of Jesus' priesthood, superior to the Levitical order, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging role. In Mark, the scene is set in the early ministry of Jesus, where His actions spark conflict with religious authorities, illustrating the tension between tradition and the living Word of God. Both readings converge on the theme of priesthood as a call to serve and bless, rather than to constrain or control.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we serve others. Like Melchizedek, we are called to be instruments of blessing, and like Jesus, to prioritize compassion over rigid rules. The moral lesson is clear: true service involves challenging injustices and bringing healing, embodying the eternal priesthood of Christ through selfless love and action. Let us embrace this call to serve with hearts full of compassion and courage.