Daily Readings - Mon Jan 18 2021
Hebrews
1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Mark
18And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?19And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.21No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.22And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of Christ’s priesthood and the newness He brings to our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear about the role of the high priest, who is called by God to offer sacrifices for sins—both for the people and for himself. This passage emphasizes Christ’s unique priesthood, one that is rooted in His obedience to the Father and His willingness to suffer. Unlike the Levitical priests, Christ’s priesthood is eternal and perfect, for He is both the offering and the one who offers. His priesthood is not based on human lineage but on His divine calling and His ability to sympathize with our weaknesses.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus responding to a question about fasting. Jesus uses the metaphor of the wedding guests and the parable of the wineskins to explain that His disciples do not fast because they are in the presence of the Bridegroom. He emphasizes that the old ways of fasting and tradition cannot contain the new life and joy that He brings. The old must give way to the new, just as new wine requires new wineskins. This teaching challenges us to embrace the freshness and vitality of the Gospel, rather than clinging to outdated practices or mindsets.
These readings remind us that Christ’s mission is one of renewal and transformation. Just as He is the eternal High Priest who offers Himself for our salvation, He also calls us to live in the newness of His Spirit. In our daily lives, we are invited to let go of the old patterns and habits that no longer serve us and to embrace the freedom and joy that come from following Him. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to the new things God is doing in our lives, or are we holding onto the old? May we, like Christ, learn obedience through suffering and trust in the Father’s plan, allowing His new life to flow into us and through us.