Daily Readings - Sat Jan 16 2021
Hebrews
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double--edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Mark
13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s Word and the compassion of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear that the Word of God is “living and effective,” capable of piercing to the very depths of our being, discerning our thoughts and intentions. This passage emphasizes the transcendence of God’s Word, which sees through all pretenses and understands the deepest recesses of our hearts. It also reminds us that Jesus, as our great High Priest, is not distant or unfeeling but one who understands our weaknesses and temptations, having experienced them himself, though without sin. This truth should fill us with confidence to approach God’s throne of grace, where we can find mercy and help in our time of need.
In the Gospel, Mark presents us with a vivid scene of Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, and then dining with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized by this, but Jesus responds by declaring that he came not to call the righteous but sinners. This passage underscores Jesus’ mission to reach out to those on the margins, those who recognize their need for God’s mercy. It challenges us to examine our own attitudes toward others and ourselves. Are we like the Pharisees, judging others for their imperfections, or are we like Levi and the sinners, humbly acknowledging our need for God’s grace?
These readings are deeply connected. The Word of God, as described in Hebrews, is not just a distant truth but a living force that actively seeks to heal and transform us. Jesus, in the Gospel, embodies this Word, reaching out to those who are broken and in need. For us, this means that our faith is not about being perfect or self-righteous but about recognizing our own need for mercy and extending that same compassion to others. Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus understands our struggles. And let us imitate his example by reaching out to those around us who may feel excluded or unworthy, offering them the same grace and love we have received.