4 February 2021

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24, NRSV

In today’s reading we hear about two mountains – Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. The author of this letter to the Hebrews knew that he was writing to Jewish Christians, many of whom were still clinging to the laws of the Old Covenant of Moses that they were raised under. He wants to free them from this hold of tradition and to show them how much more they are offered under the New Covenant made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Mount Sinai, the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments, is described as a fearful, noisy and dangerous place which few would dare to approach. Mount Zion, or the heavenly Jerusalem, is seen as a place of peace and joy where all are welcome and valued.

• • Why did some of these early Christians still cling to their old beliefs and traditions?
  • How do you envisage Heaven?

Pray today for people who live in fear and judgement.