Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Monday, 12 January 2015

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Monday, 12 January 2015
Meditation - Hebrews 1:1 Long ago in many ways and at many times God’s prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. 2 But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. 3 God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together.
After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side[a] of the glorious God in heaven. 4 He had become much greater than the angels, and the name he was given is far greater than any of theirs.
God’s Son Is Greater than Angels
5 God has never said
    to any of the angels,
“You are my Son, because today
    I have become your Father!”
Neither has God said
    to any of them,
“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son!”
6 When God brings his first-born Son[b] into the world, he commands all of his angels to worship him.
[Footnotes:
1.3 right side: The place of honor and power.
1.6 first-born Son: The first son born into a family had certain privileges that the other children did not have. In 12.23 “first-born” refers to God’s special people.]
1st Week in Ordinary Time
In these last days, he spoke to us through a son. (Hebrews 1:2)
There is so much we don’t know about the Letter to the Hebrews. Most scholars today agree it wasn’t written by St. Paul, as was previously thought, but they don’t know who did write it. We aren’t sure when it was written, but we think it was around ad 90. It may be a letter or it may be a sermon. It might have been written to Jewish Christians—but maybe not.
But for all that we don’t know, there is one thing that brooks no argument: its message. Even a light reading of Hebrews reveals a powerful word of encouragement.
The language of Hebrews is fresh and novel, echoing in every verse the promise of a new covenant in Christ. God has spoken to the world through his Son, and in doing so he has turned the traditional understanding of Judaism on its head. Hebrews stresses, however, that this is not a different direction but a surprising fulfillment of God’s plan for his people.
Hebrews makes clear the divine parallels that exist between the covenant with Moses and the new covenant with Christ. Jesus himself has assumed the role of high priest, mediating between us and God. With one single sacrifice he refines the countless thousands made by human priests up to this point. He has “made perfect forever those who are being consecrated” (Hebrews 10:14). The author enumerates the great milestones and heroes of Scripture—Adam, Abraham, David and Samuel—and tells how they, though their faith was strong, did not yet receive what had been promised. But now is the time for the fulfillment of that assurance!
As we journey toward the climax of God’s grand plan, Hebrews tells us to take heart. A new kind of grace is available, allowing us to enter into God’s kingdom, which is his “rest” (Hebrews 4:11).
Of course, this doesn’t mean that every passing dream of ours will come true. It means that the deepest longing of our hearts—a hole that can be filled only by a relationship with God—is satisfied in him, at last.
“Thank you, Lord, for the new covenant in your blood. I praise you for setting me free from sin and death and raising me up as your heir.” Amen!
Psalms 97: The Lord Brings Justice
1 The Lord is King!
    Tell the earth to celebrate
    and all islands to shout.
2 Dark clouds surround him,
    and his throne is supported
    by justice and fairness.
6 The heavens announce,
“The Lord brings justice!”
    Everyone sees God’s glory.
7 Those who brag about
the useless idols they worship
    are terribly ashamed,
    and all the false gods
    bow down to the Lord.
9 The Lord rules the whole earth,
    and he is more glorious
    than all the false gods.
Mark 1: Jesus Begins His Work
14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God.[a] 15 He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here.[b] Turn back to God and believe the good news!”
Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen
16 As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 18 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
19 Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20 At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him.
[Footnotes:
1.14 that comes from God: Or “that is about God.”
1.15 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”]
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