Daily Readings - Tue Jan 22 2019
Hebrews
10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.17Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Mark
23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.24The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"25He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring nature of God’s promises and the importance of understanding the purpose behind religious practices. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes God’s faithfulness and the hope we have in Him. The author encourages us to persevere in our faith, just as Abraham did, trusting in God’s promises even when the journey is long and uncertain. The reading also highlights the role of patience and faith as essential virtues for inheriting the promises of God. The Gospel from Mark presents a moment of tension between Jesus and the Pharisees over the observance of the Sabbath. Jesus defends His disciples’ actions by pointing to the true purpose of the Sabbath: it was made for the benefit of humanity, not to impose unnecessary restrictions. He even cites the example of David, who broke a sacred rule to meet a human need, to show that compassion and human well-being should take precedence over rigid legalism.
The readings are connected by the theme of trusting in God’s plan and understanding the spirit behind His laws. In Hebrews, we see that God’s promises are unshakable, and we are called to live with hope and perseverance. In Mark, Jesus teaches us that religious practices should serve humanity, not the other way around. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith: do we trust in God’s faithfulness, even when the path is unclear? Do we approach religious practices with a spirit of compassion and humanity, or do we get caught up in legalism?
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember to trust in God’s promises and to live with patience and hope. Let us also examine our own practices and attitudes, ensuring that they reflect the compassion and love that Jesus modeled. May we, like the disciples, be willing to step out in faith, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own understanding. And may we, like Jesus, prioritize the well-being of others, remembering that the rules and traditions we follow were made to serve us, not to bind us.