Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 12, 2023
First Reading: Hebrews 3.7-14
7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Psalm 95
1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.6O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.7For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.10Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Gospel: Mark 1.40-45
40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.43And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;44And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Hebrews warns us against hardening our hearts, urging us to remain faithful and supportive of one another. The second reading from Mark shares the story of a leper who, with unwavering faith, approaches Jesus for healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals the leper and instructs him to present himself to the priests, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience.
These readings remind us of the delicate balance between individual faith and community support. The leper's courage to approach Jesus reflects the personal trust we must have in God, while the community aspect in Hebrews highlights the need for mutual encouragement to prevent our hearts from becoming hardened by sin. Just as the leper's healing was a testament to others, our actions and faith can inspire those around us.
In our daily lives, let us embrace this dual lesson. May we nurture our personal faith, trusting in God's grace, and actively support one another within our community. By doing so, we not only avoid the pitfalls of sin but also become beacons of hope and faith for others. The moral here is clear: faith and community are intertwined, each strengthening the other, leading us closer to God and fostering a spirit of compassion and trust.