Daily Readings - Sat Jan 14 2023
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful truths about God’s Word and Jesus’ mission of mercy. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, capable of discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It emphasizes that nothing is hidden from God’s sight and encourages us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus, our High Priest, understands our weaknesses and is always ready to show mercy. The Gospel from Mark then presents Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, and dining with sinners, prompting the Pharisees to question his actions. Jesus responds by declaring that he came not for the righteous but for sinners, likening himself to a doctor who heals the sick.
These readings are deeply connected. In Hebrews, we see the power and penetrating nature of God’s Word, which judges the heart but also offers grace. In Mark, we see this Word made flesh in Jesus, who embodies God’s mercy by reaching out to those on the margins. Both readings highlight Jesus’ compassion and understanding of human frailty. The Pharisees’ criticism reveals a misunderstanding of God’s heart, which is not about condemnation but about healing and restoration. Jesus’ actions show that true righteousness is not about separating oneself from sinners but about bringing them closer to God’s love.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we approach God and others. Do we come to God with confidence, knowing he sees our struggles and desires to heal us? Do we, like Jesus, reach out to those who feel unworthy or excluded? The moral lesson here is clear: God’s mercy is not reserved for the perfect but for the imperfect. We are all sinners in need of grace, and we are called to be instruments of that grace in the world. Let us, therefore, approach life with humility, compassion, and a willingness to embrace others as Jesus did, remembering that the greatest sinners are often the ones who need God’s love the most.