Daily Readings - Wed Jan 27 2021
Hebrews
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Mark
1And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.2And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,3Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.8And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.9And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.10And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.11And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:12That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?14The sower soweth the word.15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of God’s plan for our salvation and the way we receive His Word in our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, who by offering Himself on the cross, has perfected those who are sanctified. This passage contrasts the endless sacrifices of the old covenant with the single, perfect sacrifice of Jesus, which has the power to forgive sins and bring us into a lasting relationship with God. The author emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice is not just a past event but an eternal reality, as He now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us.
In the Gospel, Mark presents us with the parable of the sower, which Jesus uses to teach about the different ways people respond to the Word of God. The seed represents the Word, and the various types of soil represent the hearts of those who hear it. Some people’s hearts are like the path, where the Word is quickly snatched away by Satan. Others are like rocky ground, where the Word is received with enthusiasm but lacks depth and endurance. Still, others are like thorny soil, where worldly concerns and desires choke out the Word. Finally, there are those with good soil, who hear the Word, accept it, and bear abundant fruit. Jesus explains that understanding this parable is key to understanding all the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
These readings are deeply connected. The sacrifice of Christ, which we celebrate in the Eucharist, is the source of the grace that allows us to receive the Word of God with open and fruitful hearts. The parable of the sower challenges us to examine our own lives and ask: What kind of soil am I? Do I allow the Word of God to take root in my heart, or are there obstacles—like fear, pride, or worldly distractions—that prevent me from bearing fruit? The moral lesson is clear: our response to God’s Word determines the depth of our relationship with Him. Let us pray for the grace to cultivate hearts that are receptive, humble, and generous, so that we may bear fruit in abundance and live as true disciples of Christ.