Daily Readings - Wed Jan 23 2019
Hebrews
1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Mark
1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.3And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.4And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on priesthood and service. The first reading from Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who appears in the Old Testament as both a king and a priest. His priesthood is unique because it is not tied to lineage or ritual but is eternal, resembling the priesthood of Jesus Christ. This passage highlights the idea that true priesthood is not about rules or traditions but about bringing life and blessings to others. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus as the ultimate priest who defies legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath to heal a man with a withered hand. Jesus’ actions challenge the Pharisees’ narrow understanding of God’s law, showing that true priesthood is about compassion, restoration, and serving others.
The context of these readings is crucial. Hebrews is part of a larger argument about the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. By comparing Jesus to Melchizedek, the author emphasizes that Christ’s priesthood is eternal and universal, transcending human limitations. In Mark’s Gospel, the healing on the Sabbath is a pivotal moment that reveals the growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. While they focus on rules, Jesus focuses on people, demonstrating that God’s law is meant to bring life, not restrict it.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our own calling as disciples of Christ. Like Melchizedek and Jesus, we are called to be priests in our own way—serving others, bringing healing, and challenging systems that prioritize rules over people. In our daily lives, we can ask ourselves: Am I using my time and talents to restore and uplift others? Am I willing to challenge structures that hinder compassion and justice? Let us follow Jesus’ example, choosing to act with love and mercy, even when it means going against the status quo. True priesthood, as these readings show, is not about power or prestige but about selfless service and bringing God’s life to the world.