Today is Jan. 13, Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time.
In today’s readings at Mass, we hear, “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe” (Heb 1:1-2).
In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded that God, who once spoke through the prophets in fragmentary and varied ways, has spoken definitively through his Son. This revelation marks a transformative moment in salvation history. No longer are we left to discern God’s will through shadows and signs; in Christ, we encounter the fullness of Truth; we encounter his face.
Hebrews proclaims Jesus as the heir of all things and the one through whom the world was created. Here we see the majesty of Christ, not only as the ultimate recipient of creation but also as its creator and sustainer. As the “refulgence of his glory” and the “imprint of his being,” Christ reveals God’s very nature — his power, his mercy and his boundless love. As St. Athanasius puts it: “The renewal of creation has been wrought by the Self-same Word who made it in the beginning.” This is no distant deity; in Jesus, God comes near to us, bearing our burdens and redeeming us from sin.
Finding the answers to life’s questions
What does this profound revelation mean for our daily lives? It reminds us that in Christ, we find the definitive answer to life’s ultimate questions: Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going? Jesus, as both Creator and Redeemer, grounds our identity and gives purpose to our existence.
Because Christ is the fullness of God’s revelation, we are called to cultivate a relationship with him. This means listening attentively to his Word, encountered in Scripture and proclaimed by the Church. It means spending time in prayer mulling over passages of his Word each day. Finally, it means aligning our lives with his teaching, knowing that the one who upholds all things by his powerful Word also sustains us in our trials and calls us to share in his divine life.
Yesterday, as we celebrated the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Father encouraged us to listen to his Son. Today, as we reflect his Word as revelation, let us each ask what role Scripture will play in lives this year? Is there a way Jesus is inviting you to encounter him through the Bible this year?
Let us pray,
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.