Daily Readings - Mon Jan 18 2021
Hebrews
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.
Mark
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 hear about the role of the high priest, who is called by God to offer sacrifices for sins—both for the people and for himself. This passage emphasizes Christ’s unique priesthood, one that is rooted in His obedience to the Father and His willingness to suffer. Unlike the Levitical priests, Christ’s priesthood is eternal and perfect, for He is both the offering and the one who offers. His priesthood is not based on human lineage but on His divine calling and His ability to sympathize with our weaknesses.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus responding to a question about fasting. Jesus uses the metaphor of the wedding guests and the parable of the wineskins to explain that His disciples do not fast because they are in the presence of the Bridegroom. He emphasizes that the old ways of fasting and tradition cannot contain the new life and joy that He brings. The old must give way to the new, just as new wine requires new wineskins. This teaching challenges us to embrace the freshness and vitality of the Gospel, rather than clinging to outdated practices or mindsets.
These readings remind us that Christ’s mission is one of renewal and transformation. Just as He is the eternal High Priest who offers Himself for our salvation, He also calls us to live in the newness of His Spirit. In our daily lives, we are invited to let go of the old patterns and habits that no longer serve us and to embrace the freedom and joy that come from following Him. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to the new things God is doing in our lives, or are we holding onto the old? May we, like Christ, learn obedience through suffering and trust in the Father’s plan, allowing His new life to flow into us and through us.