Daily Gospel – Tuesday, January 21, 2025 – Mark 2,23-28 – Catholic Bible

First Reading (Hebrews 6,10-20).

Reading of the Letter to the Hebrews.

Brothers, God is not unjust, to forget what you are doing and the charity you have shown in his name, serving and continuing to serve the saints. But we want each one of you to show this same commitment to the full realization of hope until the end, so that you are not slow to understand, but imitators of those who, through faith and perseverance, become heirs of the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, there being no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying: “I will shower you with blessings and multiply you in great numbers.” And so, Abraham persevered and achieved the promise. Men swear, in fact, by someone more important, and the guarantee of the oath puts an end to any contestation. Therefore, wanting God to show, more firmly, to the heirs of the promise, the irrevocable nature of his decision, he intervened with an oath. Thus, through two irrevocable acts, in which there can be no lie on God’s part, we find deep consolation, we who left everything to achieve the proposed hope. Hope, in fact, is for us like an anchor of life, safe and firm, penetrating beyond the curtain of the sanctuary, where Jesus entered for us, as a forerunner, made eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

– Word of the Lord.

– Thank God.

Gospel (Mark 2,23-28).

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.

— Glory to you, Lord.

Jesus was passing through some wheat fields on the Sabbath. His disciples began to pluck ears of corn as they walked. Then the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look! Why do they do on the Sabbath what is not permitted?” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read what David and his companions did when they were in need and hungry? How he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread offered to God, and the did he also give it to his companions? However, only priests are allowed to eat these breads.” And he added: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is also lord of the Sabbath.”

— Word of Salvation.

— Glory to you, Lord.

Reflecting the Word of God

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I invite you to reflect on a theme that is at the heart of today’s readings: God’s faithfulness and the freedom we find in His love. Let’s start with a simple but profound question: what does it mean to live as children of a faithful God? We may never have stopped to think about it, but today’s Scriptures help us understand how God’s promise and call to freedom shape our walk.

Looking at the First Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded that God is not unjust enough to forget our works and the love we demonstrate in His name by serving the saints. This statement is an anchor of hope for all who, in the midst of life’s difficulties, question whether their efforts have any value before God.

Let’s think about an anchor for a moment. When a ship faces a storm, the anchor keeps the boat stable, preventing it from being dragged by the force of the waves. Such is God’s promise to us: a firm and secure anchor for our souls. He does not abandon us, and His promises are kept, regardless of how the storms of life may try to knock us down.

However, the passage also challenges us not to be complacent. The author of Hebrews exhorts us to be diligent until the end, imitating those who through faith and patience inherited the promises. Here we are invited to reflect: are we making an effort to live our faith actively? Or are we allowing the monotony of the spiritual routine to prevent us from growing?

To illustrate, let’s think of a plant. If it does not receive light, water and constant care, its vitality disappears. Likewise, our faith demands care. It grows when we feed on the Word of God, participate in the sacraments and live in service to others.

In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus confronting the Pharisees about their legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath. He says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” This statement is revolutionary, as it reminds us that God’s laws are an invitation to full life, not a burden to oppress.

Imagine a person trying to carry a backpack full of stones. She walks slowly, tired, without strength. Now, imagine someone removing these stones, one by one, leaving the backpack light. This is the love of God. He does not give us laws to burden us, but to free us from the stones of guilt, fear and selfishness.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, were so caught up in legalism that they forgot the greatest purpose of laws: the good of human beings. Jesus, by remembering David’s example with the showbread, shows us that mercy must always surpass sacrifice. God’s heart is always inclined toward compassion, not condemnation.

Here, we are called to examine how we interpret God’s will in our lives. Are we living the freedom that Jesus offers us? Or, like the Pharisees, are we trapped by rules that do not allow us to fully experience God’s love?

There is a powerful lesson in bringing these two readings together. Hebrews tells us about God’s faithfulness, which gives us the strength to persevere. Mark reminds us of the freedom Jesus offers us, freeing us from the burden of legalism. Together, they show us that the Christian life is anchored in firm promises and lived in the freedom of love.

But how can we apply all of this in our daily lives? First, we need to trust in God’s faithfulness, even when circumstances seem challenging. Think of Abraham, mentioned in the reading from Hebrews. He waited patiently and received what God promised. We too must trust that God is working in our lives, even when we don’t see immediate results.

Second, we must seek true freedom in Christ. This means putting aside unnecessary weights, such as resentment, fear and self-pity, and living with joy the vocation that God has given us. Think about how Jesus and His disciples gathered grain on the Sabbath. They were experiencing the freedom of knowing that the Father cares for them, regardless of the criticism of others.

And finally, we are called to be anchors of hope for others. In a world full of uncertainty, our actions can be a reflection of God’s faithfulness. When we show compassion, advocate justice, and serve those in need, we are a light in the darkness and showing people that God’s promises are real.

In closing, I would like to share a powerful image that encapsulates today’s message. Imagine a lighthouse on a stormy night, with gigantic waves crashing against the rocks. Even so, the lighthouse’s light remains steady, guiding mariners to safety. That beacon is Christ, and we are called to remain anchored in Him, trusting in His faithfulness and living in the freedom He gives us.

My brothers and sisters, may we leave here today renewed by these two truths: God is faithful, and His promises are our anchor of hope; and Jesus calls us to live in the freedom of His love, without the weight of legalism, but with the lightness of grace.

May our lives be a testimony to this fidelity and freedom, so that others can also find the way to the heart of God. Amen.