Daily Readings - Tue Jan 17 2023
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 encounter powerful lessons about faith, hope, and the nature of God’s law. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that God is always faithful to His promises, even when the journey is long and challenging. The author encourages us to persevere in hope, just as Abraham did, trusting that God’s promises are unshakable. This passage emphasizes the importance of patience and faith as we walk the path of discipleship, knowing that our efforts to love and serve others are not forgotten by God.
The Gospel from Mark presents a moment of tension between tradition and compassion. Jesus and His disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, but Jesus responds by reminding them that the Sabbath was created for humanity’s benefit, not to impose unnecessary burdens. He references David’s actions when he and his men were in need, showing that even the sacred laws of God must be understood in the context of human need and compassion. Jesus’ words challenge us to think deeply about the purpose of rules and traditions, ensuring that they serve the greater good rather than becoming ends in themselves.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. From Hebrews, we learn the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s promises, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. From Mark, we are reminded that our actions should always be guided by love and compassion, rather than rigid adherence to rules. Let us strive to be people of hope and patience, trusting in God’s faithfulness, and let us approach life with the flexibility to serve others, just as Jesus did. May we always remember that our faith is not about following rules for their own sake, but about living in a way that reflects God’s love and mercy.