Daily Readings - Thu Jan 13 2022
1 Samuel
1And it happened that, in those days, the Philistines assembled to fight. And Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle, and he made camp beside the Stone of Assistance. But the Philistines went to Aphek2and they positioned their troops against Israel. Then, when the conflict began, Israel turned his back to the Philistines. And they were cut down in that conflict, in various places in the fields, about four thousand men3And the people returned to the camp. And those greater by birth of Israel said: "Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring to ourselves the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. And let it enter into our midst, so that it may save us from the hand of our enemies.4Therefore, the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, sitting upon the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of the covenant of God5And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord had arrived in the camp, all of Israel shouted with a great clamor, and the land resounded6And the Philistines heard the voice of the clamor, and they said, "What is this voice of a great clamor in the camp of the Hebrews?" And they realized that the ark of the Lord had arrived in the camp7And the Philistines were afraid, saying, "God has entered into the camp." And they groaned, saying8"Woe to us! For there was no such great exultation yesterday, or the day before. Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of these sublime gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with all the plagues, in the desert.9"Be strengthened, and be manly, O Philistines! Otherwise, you may serve the Hebrews, as they also have served you. Be strengthened and wage war!10Therefore, the Philistines fought, and Israel was cut down, and each one fled to his own tent. And an exceedingly great slaughter occurred. And thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell11And the ark of God was captured. Also, the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died
Mark
40And a leper came to him, begging him. And kneeling down, he said to him, "If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.41Then Jesus, taking pity on him, reached out his hand. And touching him, he said to him: "I am willing. Be cleansed.42And after he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed43And he admonished him, and he promptly sent him away44And he said to him: "See to it that you tell no one. But go and show yourself to the high priest, and offer for your cleansing that which Moses instructed, as a testimony for them.45But having departed, he began to preach and to disseminate the word, so that he was no longer able to openly enter a city, but had to remain outside, in deserted places. And they were gathered to him from every direction
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and obedience. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' defeat at the hands of the Philistines. Despite bringing the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God's presence, they suffer a devastating loss. This story underscores the lesson that mere symbols of faith, without genuine trust and obedience, are insufficient. The Israelites relied on the Ark as a magical solution, yet their lack of true faith led to their downfall. The second reading from Mark presents a stark contrast. A leper approaches Jesus with humility and faith, begging for healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to show himself to the priests as a testimony. However, the leper, overwhelmed with joy, spreads the news widely, forcing Jesus to withdraw to deserted places.
These readings remind us that faith is not about outward symbols or rituals but about a deep, personal trust in God. The Israelites had the Ark but lacked the faith to trust in God's plan. The leper, on the other hand, trusted in Jesus' power and mercy, and his faith was rewarded. Yet, his failure to obey Jesus' instructions highlights the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God. True faith is not just about seeking God's blessings but also about surrendering to His will and following His guidance.
As we reflect on these readings, let us examine our own lives. Do we rely on outward symbols of faith while neglecting a deeper trust in God? Do we seek God's blessings without surrendering to His will? Let us learn from the leper's humility and the Israelites' mistake. True power comes not from symbols or rituals but from a genuine, trusting relationship with God. May we cultivate such faith in our daily lives, seeking to follow God's will with humility and obedience.