Daily Readings - Fri Jan 24 2025
Hebrews
6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Mark
13And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:16And Simon he surnamed Peter;17And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:18And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,19And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on God’s covenant with humanity and the call to discipleship. The first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of a new and better covenant established by God, one that surpasses the old. This covenant is not written on stone tablets but inscribed on human hearts, promising a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. The old covenant, though good, was limited, and God’s plan was always to fulfill it with something greater. The Gospel from Mark then shifts our focus to the mission of Jesus, who gathers his twelve apostles, empowering them to preach and heal. This passage emphasizes the importance of community and the call to participate in God’s work of redemption.
The connection between these readings lies in the theme of God’s plan unfolding through covenant and mission. The new covenant in Hebrews finds its fulfillment in the community of believers formed by Jesus in Mark. Just as the old covenant was a stepping stone to the new, the apostles represent the beginning of a new people of God, called to live out the teachings of Christ. This relationship highlights the continuity of God’s plan and the central role of community in living out the faith.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live as people of the new covenant. We are called to be a community on mission, just like the apostles, using our unique gifts and talents to share God’s love with the world. The moral lesson here is one of trust and commitment. Just as the apostles trusted Jesus and followed his call, we too must trust in God’s plan and remain faithful to our mission. Let us ask ourselves: Am I living as a new covenant person, with God’s laws inscribed on my heart? Am I part of a community that reflects God’s love and mercy? May we embrace our role in God’s plan, trusting that He will guide us as we strive to live out the Gospel in our daily lives.