Daily Readings - Mon Jan 30 2023
Hebrews
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Mark
1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"10"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well.17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.19Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. The first reading from Hebrews 11:32-40 presents a roll call of Old Testament figures who exemplified extraordinary faith. These individuals, despite facing immense hardships and not always seeing the fulfillment of God’s promises in their lifetimes, remained steadfast in their trust. Their stories remind us that faith is not about immediate results but about unwavering trust in God’s plan, even when the journey is fraught with challenges.
The Gospel from Mark 5:1-20 shifts our focus to a dramatic encounter between Jesus and a man tormented by many demons. This man, living on the fringes of society, found healing through Jesus’ compassion. The transformation was immediate and profound, leading the man to share his experience widely. This narrative underscores the transformative power of faith and the call to witness to God’s grace in our lives.
Both readings highlight the transformative power of faith and trust in God. The heroes of faith in Hebrews teach us to trust God’s plan, even in uncertainty. The man in Mark’s Gospel shows us that faith leads to healing and compels us to share God’s grace with others. In our daily lives, we are called to trust God in our struggles and to share our experiences of His grace, just as the healed man did. Let us embrace this call, trusting in God’s plan and spreading His love in our communities.