Daily Readings - Wed Feb 06 2019
Hebrews
4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Mark
1And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.2And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.4But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that God's discipline, though challenging, is a manifestation of His love. It encourages us to embrace this discipline, trusting that it leads to peace and justice. The second reading from Mark illustrates Jesus facing rejection in His hometown, highlighting the theme of unbelief and the limitations it imposes on God's work.
The context of Hebrews is a letter to early Christians enduring hardships, urging them to persevere. Mark's passage shows Jesus' experience of rejection, emphasizing that even the Son of God faced skepticism. These readings connect through the theme of facing challenges in faith—whether through discipline or rejection. They remind us that our faith is tested in such moments, calling us to trust in God's plan.
Applying this to daily life, we are encouraged to persevere through trials, viewing them as opportunities for growth. Let us not let familiarity or comfort hinder our faith, as seen in Jesus' hometown. Instead, we should embrace God's discipline and remain open to His grace, avoiding the roots of bitterness. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's love, even in difficult times, and remain faithful, knowing that true peace and justice will follow.