Daily Readings - Wed Feb 03 2021
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 powerful lessons about faith, humility, and the challenges of living a life pleasing to God. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that discipline is an essential part of our spiritual journey. The author encourages us to persevere through trials, understanding them as a sign of God’s love and a means of growing in holiness. Just as a father corrects his children, God disciplines us to help us become the people He created us to be. This discipline may be uncomfortable or even painful, but it ultimately leads to peace and justice in our lives. The reading also warns us against bitterness and the importance of pursuing sanctity, without which we cannot see God.
The Gospel from Mark provides a vivid example of how even Jesus, the Son of God, faced rejection and unbelief. Returning to His hometown, Jesus was met with skepticism and offense because the people could not see beyond His humble beginnings as a carpenter’s son. Despite His wisdom and the miracles He performed, they refused to accept Him, limiting His ability to work wonders among them. This passage reminds us that faith is often hindered by our own limited perspectives and preconceptions. Like the people of Nazareth, we risk missing out on the grace and miracles God wants to work in our lives when we allow unbelief or pride to harden our hearts.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and how we respond to challenges and setbacks. Are we open to the discipline of the Lord, trusting that it is for our good? Do we allow our own biases or doubts to prevent us from seeing God’s work in our lives and in the world around us? Let us ask for the grace to embrace humility and faith, trusting that God’s plan for us is always one of love and transformation. May we, like Jesus, persevere in the face of rejection and continue to walk in the path of peace and holiness, knowing that true fruitfulness comes from trusting in God’s providence.