Daily Readings - Mon Jan 28 2019
Hebrews
15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Mark
22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."23So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.27In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."30He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of sin, redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear about Christ as the mediator of the new covenant, whose single sacrifice on the cross destroys sin once and for all. This passage emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice is not repeated, unlike the offerings of the high priests in the Old Testament. Instead, he enters heaven to intercede for us, and his work of salvation is complete. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the spiritual battle at play. Jesus is accused by the scribes of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus responds by pointing out the absurdity of Satan working against himself, and he warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—an act of deliberate rebellion against God’s truth—is the one sin that cannot be forgiven.
These readings are deeply connected. In Hebrews, we see the definitive sacrifice of Christ that frees us from sin, while in Mark, we are reminded of the spiritual opposition we face and the gravity of rejecting God’s grace. Together, they call us to recognize the seriousness of sin and the importance of aligning our lives with God’s truth. The Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, is the source of all truth and holiness. To reject the Spirit’s work in our lives is to cut ourselves off from God’s grace and forgiveness.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our relationship with sin and grace. Do we recognize the gift of redemption that Christ has won for us, or do we take it for granted? Are we open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, or do we resist his promptings? Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to live in a way that reflects our gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ. May we never forget the gravity of sin, but also may we never lose hope in the boundless mercy of God, who desires to free us from all that separates us from him.