Daily Readings - Thu Jan 23 2025
Hebrews
25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.26Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
1The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Mark
7Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.8When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.9Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.10For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.11Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."12But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on the ministry of Jesus Christ. The first, from the Letter to the Hebrews, presents Jesus as the eternal High Priest who intercedes for us in heaven. This passage contrasts Jesus with the priests of the old covenant, emphasizing His unique role as the perfect mediator who offered Himself once for all sins. The second reading, from the Gospel of Mark, depicts Jesus ministering to a multitude by the sea, healing the sick, and demonstrating His divine authority over unclean spirits. These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of Christ's priesthood and His mission of salvation.
The context of the Hebrews passage is rooted in the Jewish understanding of priesthood and sacrifice. The author explains that Jesus, as the perfect High Priest, transcends the limitations of the earthly priesthood. He does not need to offer sacrifices daily because His one sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for all time. In Mark's Gospel, the scene by the sea shows Jesus in the midst of His earthly ministry, surrounded by crowds seeking healing and deliverance. The unclean spirits recognize His divine identity, but Jesus silences them, perhaps to emphasize that His true identity would be revealed through His death and resurrection.
These readings are deeply connected. The Gospel shows Jesus fulfilling the role described in Hebrews as the one who heals and saves. While the crowds press in to touch Him, Jesus is already living out the priesthood that would culminate in His sacrifice on the cross. For us today, this means we can trust in Jesus' ongoing intercession and His power to heal and transform our lives. We are called to approach Him with faith, seeking His touch and His grace, just as the people in the Gospel did.
As we reflect on these readings, let us remember that Jesus is our eternal High Priest who continually intercedes for us. May we turn to Him in our needs, trusting in His power to heal and save. Let us also imitate His humility and focus on serving others, as He did by the sea. In a world that often seeks quick fixes and fleeting solutions, may we find our strength and hope in the eternal priesthood of Christ, who is always alive to save us.