Daily Readings - Sat Feb 03 2018

First Reading - 1 Kings 3.4-13

⁴And so, he went away to Gibeon, so that he might immolate there; for that was the greatest high place. Solomon offered upon that altar, at Gibeon, one thousand victims as holocausts⁵Then the Lord appeared to Solomon, through a dream in the night, saying, "Request whatever you wish, so that I may give it to you.⁶And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to your servant David, my father, because he walked in your sight in truth and justice, and with an upright heart before you. And you have kept your great mercy for him, and you have given him a son sitting upon his throne, just as it is this day⁷And now, O Lord God, you have caused your servant to reign in place of David, my father. But I am a small child, and I am ignorant of my entrance and departure⁸And your servant is in the midst of the people that you have chosen, an immense people, who are not able to be numbered or counted because of their multitude⁹Therefore, give to your servant a teachable heart, so that he may be able to judge your people, and to discern between good and evil. For who will be able to judge this people, your people, who are so many?¹⁰And the word was pleasing before the Lord, that Solomon had requested this kind of thing¹¹And the Lord said to Solomon: "Since you have requested this word, and you have not asked for many days or for wealth for yourself, nor for the lives of your enemies, but instead you have requested for yourself wisdom in order to discern judgment¹²behold, I have done for you according to your words, and I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so much so that there has been no one like you before you, nor anyone who will rise up after you¹³But also the things for which you did not ask, I have given to you, namely wealth and glory, so that no one has been like you among the kings in the all days before

Gospel - Mark 6.30-34

Mark

Chapter 6

³⁰And the Apostles, returning to Jesus, reported to him everything that they had done and taught³¹And he said to them, "Go out alone, into a deserted place, and rest for a little while." For there were so many who were coming and going, that they did not even have time to eat³²And climbing into a boat, they went away to a deserted place alone³³And they saw them going away, and many knew about it. And together they ran by foot from all the cities, and they arrived before them³⁴And Jesus, going out, saw a great multitude. And he took pity on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine encounter and human response. In the First Reading from 1 Kings, Solomon, the newly anointed king, is met by God in a dream. Solomon humbly acknowledges his limitations as a young ruler and asks not for wealth, power, or vengeance, but for a “teachable heart” to judge God’s people wisely. This plea resonates deeply with God, who not only grants Solomon wisdom but also bestows upon him the gifts of wealth and glory. The Gospel from Mark presents a complementary scene: Jesus, seeing the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd,” takes pity on them and begins to teach them. Despite the Apostles’ need for rest, Jesus prioritizes the spiritual hunger of the people, embodying the selfless love of a shepherd. The context of these readings reveals a common theme: the call to prioritize wisdom and compassion in leadership. Solomon’s request for wisdom is set against the backdrop of his new role as king, where the burden of responsibility for his people weighs heavily on him. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, highlights Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing, emphasizing the importance of attending to the spiritual and emotional needs of others. Both readings remind us that true leadership is not about power or prestige but about serving others with humility and love. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we prioritize wisdom and compassion. Like Solomon, we may face moments of uncertainty or responsibility, and we are called to seek God’s guidance with humility. Like Jesus, we are challenged to look beyond our own needs and desires to serve others. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are all called to be shepherds in our own way, offering guidance, care, and love to those around us. The moral lesson here is clear: wisdom and compassion are not optional virtues but essential qualities for living a life that honors God and serves others. Let us, therefore, pray for the grace to seek wisdom and to love selflessly, just as Solomon and Jesus have shown us.