Daily Readings - Sat Feb 15 2020
1 Kings
26And Jeroboam said in his heart: "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David27if this people ascend to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem. And the heart of this people will be converted to their lord Rehoboam, the king of Judah, and they will put me to death, and return to him.28And devising a plan, he made two golden calves. And he said to them: "No longer choose to ascend to Jerusalem. Behold, these are your gods, O Israel, who led you away from the land of Egypt!29And he stationed one in Bethel, and the other in Dan30And this word became an occasion of sin. For the people went to adore the calf, even to Dan31And he made shrines on the high places, and he made priests out of the lowest people, who were not of the sons of Levi32And he appointed a solemn day in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, in imitation of the solemnity that was celebrated in Judah. And ascending to the altar, he acted similarly in Bethel, so that he immolated to the calves, which he had made. And in Bethel, he appointed priests of the high places, which he had made
33After these words, Jeroboam did not turn back from his very evil way. Instead, to the contrary, he made priests for the high places out of the least of the people. Whosoever was willing, he filled his hand, and he became a priest of the high places34And for this reason, the house of Jeroboam sinned, and was uprooted, and was wiped from the face of the earth
Mark
1In those days, again, when there was a great crowd, and they did not have anything to eat, calling together his disciples, he said to them2"I have compassion for the multitude, because, behold, they have persevered with me now for three days, and they do not have anything to eat3And if I were to send them away fasting to their home, they might faint on the way." For some of them came from far away4And his disciples answered him, "From where would anyone be able to obtain enough bread for them in the wilderness?5And he questioned them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven.6And he instructed the crowd to sit down to eat on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke and gave it to his disciples in order to place before them. And they placed these before the crowd7And they had a few small fish. And he blessed them, and he ordered them to be placed before them8And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up what had been leftover from the fragments: seven baskets9And those who ate were about four thousand. And he dismissed them10And promptly climbing into a boat with his disciples, he went into the parts of Dalmanutha
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on leadership, faith, and the nature of true provision. The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the story of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who, fearing the reunification of his people with Judah, established idolatrous worship centers. By creating golden calves and appointing unqualified priests, Jeroboam led his people away from the true worship of God, resulting in sin and eventual downfall. This act underscores the consequences of prioritizing human schemes over divine commandments.
In contrast, the Gospel of Mark presents Jesus, who compassionately feeds a multitude of four thousand with seven loaves and a few fish. This miracle not only demonstrates Jesus's divine power but also his deep care for the people's physical needs. The abundance of leftovers, filling seven baskets, symbolizes God's generosity and the fulfillment of true needs. This narrative highlights Jesus as the true leader who guides and provides, embodying the correct approach to spiritual and physical nourishment.
These readings relate by contrasting false and true provision. Jeroboam's leadership led to idolatry and separation from God, while Jesus's leadership offers genuine care and connection to the divine. In our daily lives, we are reminded to seek spiritual fulfillment from God rather than idols, whether material or ideological. We must trust in God's provision and compassion, just as Jesus exemplified. The moral lesson is clear: true leadership guides people towards God, and faith in Him provides abundantly. Let us strive to follow Jesus's example, trusting in His provision and leading others towards Him.