Heb 2:5-12 Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9 Mk 1:21-28

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections Celebrating Christmas

“What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him?” -Heb 2:6

In today’s first reading, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews offers us a strong defense for everything that has happened as having to happen: God sending His Son Jesus to become a lowly man and to suffer. Even though we are “lower than the angels,” God still decided that it would be best to save us by becoming one of us. By His suffering, He becomes our perfect leader.

The wonder that God chose to participate in our humanity is something that has grown in me in recent years. It makes sense, of course, that God would save us (we definitely need it!), but the idea that He would do so by His Son becoming a man is just incredible: God saves humanity from the inside out, not the other way around.

Perhaps the most touching part for me at the end of today’s first reading is the author’s conclusion that, because of how everything was accomplished, Jesus is not ashamed to call us “brothers.” Like calling God “Father,” calling Jesus our brother hammers home how intimately He is caught up in us. He is not some God off in the distance; He is a family member. Because He is human, Jesus becomes the focal point for all humanity to realize that it is indeed a family, as all are brothers (or sisters) in Jesus.

We recently began the new year, a time for new hope that things may be better. As we go about our day today, let’s pray that the knowledge that all humanity is a family in Jesus Christ may bring our world peace.