Daily Readings - Fri Jan 17 2020
1 Samuel
4Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah5And they said to him: "Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.6And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord7Then the Lord said to Samuel: "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them10And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him11And he said: "This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots12And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots13Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers14Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants15Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants16Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work17Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants18And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.19But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: "By no means! For there shall be a king over us20and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them to the ears of the Lord22Then the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Let each one go to his own city.
Mark
1And after some days, he again entered into Capernaum2And it was heard that he was in the house. And so many gathered that there was no room left, not even at the door. And he spoke the word to them3And they came to him, bringing a paralytic, who was being carried by four men4And when they were not able to present him to him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. And opening it, they lowered down the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying5Then, when Jesus had seen their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you.6But some of the scribes were sitting in that place and thinking in their hearts7"Why is this man speaking in this way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins, but God alone?8At once, Jesus, realizing in his spirit that they were thinking this within themselves, said to them: "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up, take up your stretcher, and walk?10But so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic11"I say to you: Rise up, take up your stretcher, and go into your house.12And immediately he got up, and lifting up his stretcher, he went away in the sight of them all, so that they all wondered. And they honored God, by saying, "We have never seen anything like this.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on authority, faith, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' demand for a king, seeking to emulate other nations. Despite Samuel's warnings about the oppressive nature of human rule, the people insist on a monarchy, rejecting God's direct leadership. This pivotal moment in Israel's history underscores the tension between human ambition and divine governance.
The Gospel from Mark presents a contrasting narrative of authority, as Jesus demonstrates His divine power by forgiving sins and healing a paralytic man. The faith of the man's friends leads to his physical and spiritual restoration, highlighting the transformative power of trust in God. This episode not only affirms Jesus' authority but also illustrates the redemptive nature of His mission.
These readings relate through their exploration of authority—Israel's rejection of God's leadership versus Jesus' divine authority. The Israelites' choice leads to earthly oppression, while Jesus' authority brings liberation and healing. In our lives, we face similar choices: to follow our desires or submit to God's will. The moral lesson is clear: trusting in God's plan, rather than our own understanding, leads to true freedom and fulfillment. Let us embrace Jesus' authority, for in Him lies the power to forgive and heal, guiding us toward a life of faith and trust in God.