Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 24, 2022
2 Samuel
1And all the tribes of Israel went to David in Hebron, saying: "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh2Moreover, yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one leading out and leading back Israel. Then the Lord said to you, ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over Israel.’ 3Also, the elders of Israel went to the king at Hebron, and king David struck a pact with them at Hebron in the sight of the Lord. And they anointed David as king over Israel4David was a son of thirty years, when he had begun to reign, and he reigned for forty years5In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months. Then in Jerusalem, he reigned for thirty-three years over all of Israel and Judah6And the king, and all the men who were with him, went away to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And it was said to David by them, "You shall not enter here, unless you will take away the blind and the lame, who say, ‘David shall not enter here.’ 7But David seized the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David10And he advanced, prospering and increasing, and the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him
Mark
22And the scribes who had descended from Jerusalem said, "Because he has Beelzebub, and because by the prince of demons does he cast out demons.23And having called them together, he spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan24For if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom is not able to stand25And if a house is divided against itself, that house is not able to stand26And if Satan has risen up against himself, he would be divided, and he would not be able to stand; instead he reaches the end27No one is able to plunder the goods of a strong man, having entered into the house, unless he first binds the strong man, and then he shall plunder his house28Amen I say to you, that all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and the blasphemies by which they will have blasphemed29But he who will have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit shall not have forgiveness in eternity; instead he shall be guilty of an eternal offense.30For they said: "He has an unclean spirit.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on leadership, opposition, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from 2 Samuel describes David’s anointing as king over all Israel, emphasizing God’s plan and presence with him as he establishes his reign in Jerusalem. Despite initial resistance from the Jebusites, David trusts in God’s strength and guidance, and he prospers. The Gospel from Mark presents a different kind of conflict: Jesus is accused by the scribes of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus responds with a parable about the impossibility of a kingdom divided against itself, asserting that his power comes not from Satan but from God. He then warns about the gravity of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, a sin that cannot be forgiven.
Both readings highlight the theme of opposition to God’s work. In the first reading, David faces physical enemies, but his trust in God allows him to overcome. In the Gospel, Jesus faces spiritual opposition, as his enemies attribute his divine power to evil. Together, these passages remind us that God’s plan often encounters resistance, but His presence and power ultimately prevail. Jesus’ words about the Holy Spirit call us to discernment, urging us not to attribute God’s work to darkness but to recognize the divine hand at work in our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we face challenges in our own lives. Do we trust in God’s presence and strength, like David, or do we allow fear and doubt to dominate? Let us also examine our attitudes toward God’s work in the world. Are we quick to judge or dismiss the ways in which God is acting, or do we approach His work with humility and openness? Jesus’ warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit reminds us of the seriousness of closing our hearts to God’s truth. May we seek to align our wills with God’s, trusting in His plan and seeking His guidance in all we do.