Daily Readings - Tue Jan 10 2023
Hebrews
5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.6But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:8Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Mark
21And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the dignity and authority that God has entrusted to humanity, as well as the profound power of Jesus Christ to transform and save us. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear that God has placed all things under humanity’s care, crowning us with glory and honor. Yet, we also recognize that this dignity is not something we achieve on our own, but rather it is a gift from God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity and suffer for our salvation. The Gospel from Mark then shows us the practical expression of this authority, as Jesus teaches with divine power and casts out an unclean spirit, demonstrating his dominion over even the forces of evil.
The connection between the readings lies in the theme of authority and its proper use. In Hebrews, we see that true authority is not about domination but about stewardship and love, as God’s plan for humanity is one of care and responsibility over creation. In Mark, Jesus exercises his authority not to oppress but to free and to heal, showing that true power is rooted in self-giving love. Together, these readings remind us that our own authority, whether in our families, communities, or workplaces, should be exercised in a way that reflects God’s love and care for the world.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How do we use the gifts and talents God has given us? Do we use them to build up others and bring healing to those around us, or do we use them for our own selfish desires? The moral lesson here is clear: true greatness is found in humility and service, just as Jesus showed us. Let us strive to live with gratitude for the dignity God has given us, and let us trust in Jesus’ power to transform our lives and the world around us.