Daily Readings - Sat Jan 15 2022
1 Samuel
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a man of Benjamin, strong and robust2And he had a son called Saul, an elect and good man. And there was not a man among the sons of Israel better than he was. For he stood head and shoulders above all the people3Now the donkeys of Kish, the father of Saul, had become lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, "Take with you one of the servants, and rising up, go out and seek the donkeys." And when they had passed through mount Ephraim4and through the land of Shalishah, and had not found them, they crossed also through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there, and through the land of Benjamin, and they found nothing17And when Samuel had caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him: "Behold, the man about whom I spoke to you. This one shall rule over my people.18Then Saul drew near to Samuel, at the middle of the gate, and he said, "Tell me, I beg you: where is the house of the seer?19And Samuel responded to Saul, saying: "I am the seer. Ascend before me to the high place, so that you may eat with me today. And I will send you away in the morning. And I shall reveal to you everything that is in your heart
1Then Samuel took a little vial of oil, and poured it on his head. And he kissed him, and said: "Behold, the Lord has anointed you as first ruler over his inheritance. And you shall free his people from the hands of their enemies, who are all around them. And this shall be a sign for you that God has anointed you as ruler
Mark
13And he departed again to the sea. And the entire crowd came to him, and he taught them14And as he was passing by, he saw Levi of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs office. And he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him15And it happened that, as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat at table together with Jesus and his disciples. For those who followed him were many16And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with tax collectors and sinners, said to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?17Jesus, having heard this, said to them: "The healthy have no need of a doctor, but those who have maladies do. For I came not to call the just, but sinners.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine calling and transformation. In the first reading from 1 Samuel, we see the humble beginnings of Saul, who is unexpectedly chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. Samuel, the prophet, anoints Saul with oil, signifying God’s favor and the beginning of a new era for His people. This moment is not just about Saul’s elevation but also about God’s trust in him despite his limitations. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Levi, who was considered an outcast by society, is transformed by Jesus’ invitation, leaving behind his old life to become a disciple. These readings remind us that God often chooses the unexpected and the marginalized to carry out His plan.
The context of these readings reveals God’s mercy and His desire to reach out to those who feel unworthy or excluded. In 1 Samuel, the Israelites were struggling with leadership, and God chose Saul, a man who was not from a royal lineage, to lead them. This shows that God’s ways are not our ways, and His choices often surprise us. In the Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is marked by His willingness to dine with tax collectors and sinners, scandalizing the religious leaders of the time. Jesus’ response, “The healthy have no need of a doctor, but those who have maladies do,” emphasizes His mission to call sinners to repentance and healing. Both readings highlight God’s love for the broken and His desire to bring them into His fold.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like Saul and Levi, we are all called by God, not because of our worthiness, but because of His mercy and grace. We are called to embrace our mission, whatever it may be, with humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us also imitate Jesus’ compassion by reaching out to those on the margins, remembering that we are all sinners in need of God’s healing touch. May we respond to God’s call with open hearts, just as Levi did, and may we trust in His plan, even when it seems unexpected or challenging.