Daily Readings - Thu Jan 18 2018

First Reading - 1 Samuel 18.6-9; 19.1-7

⁶Now when David returned, after he had struck down the Philistine, the women went out, from all the cities of Israel, leading the singing and dancing, rejoicing with timbrels and bells, so as to meet king Saul⁷And the women sang, as they played, saying, "Saul has struck down a thousand, and David ten thousand.⁸Then Saul became exceedingly angry, and this word was displeasing in his eyes. And he said: "They have given David ten thousand, and to me they gave only one thousand. What is left for him, except the kingdom itself?⁹Therefore, Saul did not regard David with a good eye, from that day and thereafter

Chapter 19

¹Now Saul spoke to his son Jonathan, and to all his servants, so that they would kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David very much²And Jonathan revealed it to David, saying: "Saul, my father, is seeking to kill you. Because of this, I ask you, take care for yourself in the morning. And you should conceal yourself and remain in hiding³Then I, going out, will be standing beside my father in the field, where you will be. And I will speak about you to my father. And whatever I see, I will report to you.⁴Then Jonathan spoke good things about David to his father Saul. And he said to him: "You should not sin, O king, against your servant David. For he has not sinned against you, and his works toward you are very good⁵And he took his life in his own hand, and struck down the Philistine. And the Lord wrought a great salvation for all of Israel. You saw it, and you rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by killing David, who is without guilt?⁶And when Saul had heard this, being pleased by the voice of Jonathan, he swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.⁷And so Jonathan called David, and he revealed to him all of these words. And Jonathan led in David to Saul, and he was before him, just as he had been yesterday and the day before

Gospel - Mark 3.7-12

Mark

Chapter 3

⁷But Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea. And a great crowd followed him from Galilee and Judea⁸and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea and across the Jordan. And those around Tyre and Sidon, upon hearing what he was doing, came to him in a great multitude⁹And he told his disciples that a small boat would be useful to him, because of the crowd, lest they press upon him¹⁰For he healed so many, that as many of them as had wounds would rush toward him in order to touch him¹¹And the unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell prostrate before him. And they cried out, saying¹²"You are the Son of God." And he strongly admonished them, lest they make him known

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on jealousy, loyalty, and the divine plan. The first reading from 1 Samuel reveals the growing tension between King Saul and David. Saul, once celebrated as a warrior, becomes consumed by envy when David’s victory over Goliath earns him greater acclaim. The women’s song—“Saul has slain thousands, and David tens of thousands”—ignites Saul’s anger and insecurity. This jealousy leads him to plot against David, even though David has done nothing wrong. Yet, in the midst of this danger, we see the loyalty and courage of Jonathan, Saul’s own son, who stands up for David and pleads with his father to spare his life. Jonathan’s actions remind us of the importance of standing by the truth, even when it is difficult. The Gospel reading from Mark offers a striking contrast. Jesus, having withdrawn to the sea with his disciples, is surrounded by a massive crowd eager to be healed and to hear his teachings. The unclean spirits recognize Jesus as the Son of God and fall prostrate before him, but Jesus silences them. This moment highlights the humility of Jesus, who, despite his divine power, does not seek to draw attention to himself. Instead, he focuses on healing and serving others. The contrast between Saul’s jealousy and Jesus’ humility is profound. While Saul’s fear of losing his status leads him to sin, Jesus’ humility and trust in God’s plan allow him to fulfill his mission without seeking glory for himself. These readings call us to examine our own hearts and actions. Do we, like Saul, allow jealousy or insecurity to cloud our judgment and lead us astray? Or do we, like Jonathan, stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult? And do we, like Jesus, embrace humility and trust in God’s plan, even when the world seeks to elevate us? Let us ask for the grace to recognize God’s work in others, to remain loyal to the truth, and to serve with humility. May we trust in God’s plan, knowing that true greatness is found not in power or recognition, but in love and service to others.