Daily Readings - Fri Feb 09 2018

First Reading - 1 Kings 11.29-32; 12.19

²⁹And it happened, in that time, that Jeroboam departed from Jerusalem. And the prophet Ahijah, the Shilonite, wearing a new cloak, found him on the way. And the two were alone in the field³⁰And taking his new cloak, with which he was covered, Ahijah tore it into twelve parts³¹And he said to Jeroboam: "Take ten pieces for yourself. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give to you ten tribes³²Yet one tribe shall remain with him, for the sake of my servant, David, as well as Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel

Chapter 12

¹⁹And Israel drew away from the house of David, even to the present day

Gospel - Mark 7.31-37

Mark

Chapter 7

³¹And again, departing from the borders of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the area of the Ten Cities³²And they brought someone who was deaf and mute to him. And they begged him, so that he would lay his hand upon him³³And taking him away from the crowd, he put his fingers into his ears; and spitting, he touched his tongue³⁴And gazing up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: "Ephphatha," which is, "Be opened.³⁵And immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke correctly³⁶And he instructed them not to tell anyone. But as much as he instructed them, so much more did they preach about it³⁷And so much more did they wonder, saying: "He has done all things well. He has caused both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

Sermon

The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the prophet Ahijah’s encounter with Jeroboam, where he foretells the division of the kingdom of Israel. This moment marks a turning point in Israel’s history, as God’s judgment on Solomon’s sin leads to the fracturing of the kingdom. The tearing of Ahijah’s cloak into twelve pieces symbolizes the tearing of the kingdom itself, with ten tribes given to Jeroboam and two remaining under Solomon’s descendants. This reading reminds us that sin has consequences, but even in judgment, God remains faithful to his promises, preserving a remnant for the sake of David and Jerusalem. In the Gospel, Mark describes a miracle where Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. This account is rich in symbolism: Jesus’ physical touch and prayer open the man’s ears and release his tongue, signifying not only physical healing but also spiritual awakening. The man’s newfound ability to speak reflects the transformative power of encountering Christ. Despite Jesus’ instruction to keep the miracle quiet, the news spreads, highlighting the irresistible nature of God’s work in the world. This passage invites us to reflect on how we, like the crowd, might respond to God’s wonders in our lives. Both readings, though seemingly distant in context, share a common thread: the transformative power of God’s action in human history. In the first reading, God’s judgment leads to division, yet his faithfulness endures. In the Gospel, God’s mercy brings healing and restoration. For us today, these readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear or difficult. They remind us that sin can separate us from God, but his grace can heal and restore us. Let us ask for the faith to hear God’s voice and to speak of his wonders with joy and gratitude.