Daily Readings - Fri Jan 24 2025
Hebrews
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.7For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.8But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.9It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.11No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Mark
13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.14He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach15and to have authority to drive out demons.16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on God’s covenant with humanity and the call to discipleship. The first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of a new and better covenant established by God, one that surpasses the old. This covenant is not written on stone tablets but inscribed on human hearts, promising a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. The old covenant, though good, was limited, and God’s plan was always to fulfill it with something greater. The Gospel from Mark then shifts our focus to the mission of Jesus, who gathers his twelve apostles, empowering them to preach and heal. This passage emphasizes the importance of community and the call to participate in God’s work of redemption.
The connection between these readings lies in the theme of God’s plan unfolding through covenant and mission. The new covenant in Hebrews finds its fulfillment in the community of believers formed by Jesus in Mark. Just as the old covenant was a stepping stone to the new, the apostles represent the beginning of a new people of God, called to live out the teachings of Christ. This relationship highlights the continuity of God’s plan and the central role of community in living out the faith.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live as people of the new covenant. We are called to be a community on mission, just like the apostles, using our unique gifts and talents to share God’s love with the world. The moral lesson here is one of trust and commitment. Just as the apostles trusted Jesus and followed his call, we too must trust in God’s plan and remain faithful to our mission. Let us ask ourselves: Am I living as a new covenant person, with God’s laws inscribed on my heart? Am I part of a community that reflects God’s love and mercy? May we embrace our role in God’s plan, trusting that He will guide us as we strive to live out the Gospel in our daily lives.