Daily Readings - Mon Jan 14 2019

¹God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;³Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;⁴Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.⁵For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?⁶And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Mark

Chapter 1

¹⁴Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,¹⁵And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.¹⁶Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.¹⁷And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.¹⁸And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.¹⁹And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.²⁰And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments in the revelation of God's plan. The first reading from Hebrews highlights Jesus as the ultimate expression of God, surpassing the prophets and angels. It emphasizes His role as the creator and sustainer of the world, seated at God's right hand. The Gospel from Mark depicts the beginning of Jesus' ministry, where He calls the first disciples, who respond with immediate faith and action. The context of Hebrews is a letter to early Christians, possibly Jewish converts, to affirm Jesus' superiority and reinforce their faith. Mark's passage sets the stage for Jesus' ministry, showcasing His authority and the instantaneous response of the disciples. Together, these readings underscore Jesus' divine nature and His active role in calling people to follow Him. These readings challenge us to reflect on our response to God's call. Like the disciples, we are invited to trust in God's providence and step out in faith, even when it means leaving behind comfort and familiarity. This call to discipleship is a reminder to live with purpose and passion, keeping our eyes fixed on eternal truths. May we embrace this call with courage and fidelity, trusting in God's plan for our lives.