Daily Readings - Fri Jan 15 2021
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 powerful messages about faith and God's healing presence. The first reading from Hebrews urges us to have faith to enter God's rest, referencing the Sabbath and the Israelites' unbelief. The second reading from Mark tells the story of a paralytic man whose friends' unwavering faith leads Jesus to forgive his sins and heal him, showcasing Jesus' authority.
Both readings emphasize the importance of faith. In Hebrews, faith is the key to entering God's rest, while in Mark, the friends' faith results in the man's healing. This connection highlights that faith is not just belief but also action, trusting in God's plan beyond our understanding. The paralytic's story also illustrates the value of community support, as his friends persistently seek healing for him.
In our daily lives, we can apply these lessons by embracing persistent faith and trusting in God's healing, whether physical or spiritual. Just as the friends carried the paralytic, we can support one another in our journeys. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is essential, and through it, we find rest and healing in God's presence. Let us trust in His plan and seek His healing with the same determination as the paralytic's friends.