Daily Readings - Sat Jan 18 2025
Hebrews
12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Mark
13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.15And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"17And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about God's nature and Jesus' mission. The passage from Hebrews reminds us of the power and piercing nature of God's Word, which sees into the depths of our souls. It also presents Jesus as our compassionate High Priest, who understands our weaknesses and invites us to approach God's throne with confidence.
The Gospel from Mark illustrates Jesus' ministry to the marginalized, as He calls Levi, a tax collector, and dines with sinners. This act of inclusion sparks criticism from the Pharisees, to which Jesus responds by emphasizing His mission to call not the righteous, but sinners. This highlights His message of mercy and the importance of reaching out to those on the fringes.
These readings together remind us of the dual nature of our faith: the powerful Word of God and the compassionate heart of Jesus. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace both—confidently approaching God, knowing He understands our struggles, and emulating Jesus' openness to others. Let us reflect on our own humility and willingness to engage with those around us, just as Jesus did, fostering a community of compassion and inclusion.