Daily Readings - Sat Feb 08 2020
1 Kings
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
Mark
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 profound moments of leadership and compassion. In the First Book of Kings, Solomon, the newly anointed king, is met by God in a dream. When given the chance to ask for anything, Solomon humbly requests a “teachable heart” and the wisdom to lead God’s people justly. This plea is not born of ambition or self-interest but out of a deep awareness of his own limitations and the immense responsibility before him. God, pleased with Solomon’s selfless request, grants him not only wisdom but also wealth and glory, fulfilling beyond what he could have imagined.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus, the ultimate shepherd, responding to the needs of a crowd that has followed him to a deserted place. Though he and the disciples sought solitude to rest, Jesus’s heart goes out to the people, who are like “sheep without a shepherd.” Instead of turning them away, he takes the time to teach them, offering them spiritual nourishment. This moment reveals Jesus’s profound compassion and his commitment to the well-being of those entrusted to his care.
Both readings remind us of the importance of seeking wisdom and living with compassion. Like Solomon, we are called to recognize our own limitations and to ask for the grace of discernment in our lives. Like Jesus, we are challenged to see the needs of those around us and to respond with kindness, even when it is inconvenient. In a world that often values self-reliance and busyness, these readings invite us to slow down, to seek guidance, and to care for one another. May we, like Solomon and Jesus, cultivate hearts that are open to God’s wisdom and overflowing with compassion for all.