Daily Readings - Wed Jan 27 2021
Hebrews
11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:16"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."17Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Mark
1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.11He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables12so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?14The farmer sows the word.15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of God’s plan for our salvation and the way we receive His Word in our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, who by offering Himself on the cross, has perfected those who are sanctified. This passage contrasts the endless sacrifices of the old covenant with the single, perfect sacrifice of Jesus, which has the power to forgive sins and bring us into a lasting relationship with God. The author emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice is not just a past event but an eternal reality, as He now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us.
In the Gospel, Mark presents us with the parable of the sower, which Jesus uses to teach about the different ways people respond to the Word of God. The seed represents the Word, and the various types of soil represent the hearts of those who hear it. Some people’s hearts are like the path, where the Word is quickly snatched away by Satan. Others are like rocky ground, where the Word is received with enthusiasm but lacks depth and endurance. Still, others are like thorny soil, where worldly concerns and desires choke out the Word. Finally, there are those with good soil, who hear the Word, accept it, and bear abundant fruit. Jesus explains that understanding this parable is key to understanding all the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
These readings are deeply connected. The sacrifice of Christ, which we celebrate in the Eucharist, is the source of the grace that allows us to receive the Word of God with open and fruitful hearts. The parable of the sower challenges us to examine our own lives and ask: What kind of soil am I? Do I allow the Word of God to take root in my heart, or are there obstacles—like fear, pride, or worldly distractions—that prevent me from bearing fruit? The moral lesson is clear: our response to God’s Word determines the depth of our relationship with Him. Let us pray for the grace to cultivate hearts that are receptive, humble, and generous, so that we may bear fruit in abundance and live as true disciples of Christ.