Jan 27 2025

First reading Hebrews 9:15,24-28

Christ offers himself only once to take on the faults of many

Christ brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant. It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modelled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf. And he does not have to offer himself again and again, like the high priest going into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own, or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began. Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Since men only die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he appears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him.

Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-6

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The Lord has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Gospel Mark 3:22-30

A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand

The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.

‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’

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Being misunderstood

Moved by the Holy Spirit, Jesus went around healing people and touching the lives of many. His actions were expressions of love and kindness. However, the religious leaders saw his gestures of love as evil. By claiming that Beelzebul was within Jesus and working through Him, the scribes from Jerusalem intentionally closed their hearts to recognising any goodness in Him. They refused to see the hand of God in all that Jesus did. In contrast, the simple and humble crowd surrounding Jesus was able to see the wonders of God through His actions and rejoiced in Him.

We have all experienced being misunderstood while striving to do good and loving things. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who did not give up but continued to spread goodness wherever He went. Today, let us deepen our relationship with Jesus and let Him be the motivation behind all that we do and say.

Reflective question:
How open am I to follow Jesus by doing good and spreading goodness today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.