Daily Readings - Fri Jan 18 2019
Hebrews
1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'"4And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."5And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
Mark
1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic,11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on faith and God's grace. The first reading from Hebrews invites us to consider the rest that God promises, a rest that is not merely physical but deeply spiritual. It warns us against the dangers of unbelief, which can prevent us from fully embracing this divine gift. The context of this passage is a reminder to early Christians, and by extension to us, that faith is essential to entering into God's rest. The author emphasizes that hearing the word is not enough; it must be accompanied by faith to be transformative.
The Gospel from Mark vividly illustrates this theme through the story of the paralytic man. Jesus' authority to forgive sins and heal is on full display, challenging the skepticism of the scribes. The context here is one of tension between traditional religious authority and the radical message of Jesus. The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on faith as the bridge between God's grace and human experience. In Mark, the faith of the friends who carry the paralytic leads to his healing, much like the faith required to enter God's rest in Hebrews.
Applying these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded of the importance of trusting in God's plan and His power to transform us. Just as the paralytic man needed others to carry him to Jesus, we may need the support of others in our journey of faith. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not passive but active, requiring us to step out in trust, even when the path is uncertain. Let us, therefore, approach life with the faith that opens us to God's rest and healing, recognizing His presence in every moment.