Daily Readings - Mon Jan 27 2025
Hebrews
15Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Mark
22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons."23And he called them to him and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.27But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.28"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--30for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound work of Christ and the gravity of our response to God’s grace. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes Christ’s role as the Mediator of the New Testament, whose single sacrifice suffices for all sin. This contrasts with the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, highlighting the eternal efficacy of Christ’s offering. The Gospel from Mark presents a stark warning: attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to evil is a sin with eternal consequences. Jesus’ response to the scribes underscores the seriousness of rejecting God’s Spirit.
The context of Hebrews is a letter to early Christians, possibly Jewish converts, explaining the superiority of Christ’s priesthood. Mark’s passage occurs early in Jesus’ ministry, amidst growing opposition, particularly from religious leaders. Both readings converge on the Holy Spirit’s role: in Hebrews, the Spirit’s work is seen in the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice, while in Mark, the Spirit’s work is being wrongly attributed to evil, leading to severe condemnation.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to discern the Spirit’s presence and respond with faith. We must avoid the cynicism that leads to rejecting God’s work, instead embracing the grace offered through Christ. The moral lesson is clear: faith in God’s Spirit is vital, and deliberate rejection of this grace bears grave consequences. Let us remain open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, cherishing the redemption won for us by Christ.