Daily Readings - Sat Feb 09 2019
Hebrews
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Mark
30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.32And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of balance and compassion in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Hebrews encourages us to offer praise to God through our words and actions, emphasizing the value of good works and fellowship. It also urges us to obey our leaders and support them, as they guide us in our faith. The second reading from Mark illustrates Jesus's compassion as He teaches the crowd, who are like sheep without a shepherd, after the Apostles return from their mission.
The context of these readings highlights early Christian communities' challenges. Hebrews was written to encourage believers to remain faithful amidst trials, while Mark's passage shows Jesus's response to the Apostles' need for rest and the crowd's need for guidance. Both readings connect through themes of leadership and care: Hebrews focuses on the role of leaders, and Mark shows Jesus leading by example with compassion.
Applying this to our lives, we are reminded to balance rest and service. Just as Jesus taught the Apostles to rest, we too need moments of reflection. Additionally, we are called to lead or follow with compassion, supporting one another as the early Church did. The moral lesson here is the importance of finding balance and leading with kindness, mirroring Jesus's example. By doing so, we can serve others compassionately while nurturing our own spiritual well-being.