Daily Readings - Sat Jan 28 2023
Hebrews
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.2For by it the people of old received their commendation.8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,18of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Mark
35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and trust in God, even in the face of uncertainty and turmoil. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear about the nature of faith as the "substance of things hoped for" and "the evidence of things not seen." The author highlights the example of Abraham, who obeyed God's call to leave his homeland without knowing where he was going. Abraham's faith was not about having all the answers but trusting in God's promises, even when the future seemed unclear. Similarly, Sarah's faith allowed her to conceive a child in her old age, despite the impossibility of it from a human perspective. The reading reminds us that faith is not about seeing the full picture but trusting in God's plan and His faithfulness.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a dramatic scene where Jesus calms a storm while He and His disciples are on a boat. The disciples, caught in a fierce wind and waves, fear for their lives, while Jesus is seemingly indifferent, sleeping in the stern. When they wake Him, He rebukes the wind and the sea, restoring calm. Jesus' question to the disciples—"Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?"—challenges them (and us) to trust in His presence and power, even in the midst of chaos. This story underscores the importance of faith in times of doubt and fear, reminding us that God is always with us, even when we feel abandoned or overwhelmed.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the necessity of faith in navigating life's uncertainties. Abraham trusted God's promise without knowing the details, just as the disciples were called to trust in Jesus' presence and power during the storm. For us, this means that when we face our own "storms"—whether personal struggles, fears, or uncertainties—we are invited to place our trust in God. Like Abraham, we may not see the full picture, but we can trust that God is faithful and that His plan is at work. Like the disciples, we are reminded that even in the midst of turmoil, God is with us, and we need not be afraid. Let us strive to deepen our faith, trusting in God's love and providence, even when the road ahead seems unclear.