Daily Readings - Wed Jan 18 2023
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of priesthood and authority, as well as the call to live out our faith in a way that prioritizes love and service over rigid legalism. In the first reading from Hebrews, we encounter Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who appears as both a king and a priest, without the usual trappings of lineage or earthly authority. This enigmatic character is presented as a prefiguration of Christ, the eternal high priest who transcends human limitations. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Christ’s priesthood is not bound by the rules of the old covenant but is rooted in the power of an indestructible life, making his priesthood forever effective and universal.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a scene where Jesus confronts the Pharisees over their strict interpretation of the Sabbath. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, challenging the Pharisees’ legalism and revealing their hardness of heart. This episode highlights Jesus’ authority to interpret God’s law in a way that prioritizes human well-being and compassion over rigid observance. The Pharisees’ reaction—plotting against Jesus—shows the resistance that often arises when the status quo is challenged.
These readings connect in their emphasis on the true nature of priesthood and authority. Melchizedek’s priesthood, like Christ’s, is not confined to earthly structures but is rooted in justice and peace. Similarly, Jesus’ actions in the Gospel demonstrate that true priesthood involves serving and healing, not merely adhering to rules. For us, this means living our faith in a way that reflects God’s love and mercy, even when it challenges the norms around us. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to God’s transformative power in our lives? Do we prioritize love and service over rigid adherence to rules? May we, like Christ, be instruments of healing and justice in a world that often values the opposite.