Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 21, 2019
First Reading: Hebrews 5.1-10
1Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. "6And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 110
1The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."2The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.3Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth.4The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."5The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.6He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.7He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head.
Gospel: Mark 2.18-22
18Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"19Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.20But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.21"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of Christ’s priesthood and the newness He brings to our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded that Christ, though divine, took on human flesh and suffered, making Him a compassionate High Priest who understands our weaknesses. This emphasizes His unique role as an intermediary between God and humanity, bringing a new dimension to priesthood through His empathy and sacrifice.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus addressing questions about fasting. He uses the metaphor of the groom at a wedding to illustrate that His presence brings joy, making fasting inappropriate. He further uses the parables of new cloth and new wine to highlight that His teachings cannot be confined to old traditions; they require a new approach. This underscores the transformative nature of His message, urging us to embrace renewal.
These readings connect by showing Jesus as the bringer of newness—both in His priesthood and His teachings. In our daily lives, this calls us to avoid rigidity and instead be open to change and growth. The moral lesson is one of trusting in God’s plan for renewal, allowing His transformative power to shape our lives anew. Let us embrace this newness with faith, trusting that it leads us closer to God.