Daily Readings - Mon Jan 27 2025
Hebrews
15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Mark
22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."23So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.27In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."30He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound work of Christ and the gravity of our response to God’s grace. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes Christ’s role as the Mediator of the New Testament, whose single sacrifice suffices for all sin. This contrasts with the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, highlighting the eternal efficacy of Christ’s offering. The Gospel from Mark presents a stark warning: attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to evil is a sin with eternal consequences. Jesus’ response to the scribes underscores the seriousness of rejecting God’s Spirit.
The context of Hebrews is a letter to early Christians, possibly Jewish converts, explaining the superiority of Christ’s priesthood. Mark’s passage occurs early in Jesus’ ministry, amidst growing opposition, particularly from religious leaders. Both readings converge on the Holy Spirit’s role: in Hebrews, the Spirit’s work is seen in the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice, while in Mark, the Spirit’s work is being wrongly attributed to evil, leading to severe condemnation.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to discern the Spirit’s presence and respond with faith. We must avoid the cynicism that leads to rejecting God’s work, instead embracing the grace offered through Christ. The moral lesson is clear: faith in God’s Spirit is vital, and deliberate rejection of this grace bears grave consequences. Let us remain open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, cherishing the redemption won for us by Christ.