Daily Readings - Tue Jan 15 2019
Hebrews
5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.6But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:8Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Mark
21And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the authority and mission of Jesus Christ, as well as our own place within God’s plan. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear a profound meditation on the dignity of humanity and the role of Jesus as the one who brings salvation. The author of Hebrews reminds us that God has crowned humanity with glory and honor, placing us just below the angels, but it is through Jesus that we understand the fullness of this dignity. Jesus, who was made “a little less than the angels,” took on human flesh, suffered, and died to bring salvation to all. This passage emphasizes that Jesus is not only our savior but also our brother, sharing in our humanity and sanctifying us through his Passion.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. The people are astonished at his authority, for he teaches not like the scribes but as one who has true power. This authority is demonstrated when Jesus confronts an unclean spirit in the synagogue. The spirit recognizes Jesus as the “Holy One of God” and is cast out by Jesus’ command. This event shows that Jesus’ authority extends not only to teaching but also to the spiritual realm, as he has power over evil itself. The crowd is amazed, and Jesus’ fame spreads throughout Galilee. This passage highlights the uniqueness of Jesus’ mission and the impact of his presence in the world.
These readings are deeply connected. The letter to the Hebrews explains the theological significance of Jesus’ mission, while the Gospel from Mark shows that mission in action. Together, they remind us that Jesus is both the savior who brings us closer to God and the one who has authority over all things, including the forces of evil. In our daily lives, we are called to recognize Jesus’ authority and to trust in his power to transform our lives. Just as the people in Capernaum were amazed by Jesus’ teaching and actions, we too can experience his transformative power if we open our hearts to him. Let us strive to live as children of God, aware of our dignity and our mission to bring God’s love into the world.