Daily Readings - Fri Jan 12 2024
1 Samuel
4Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah5And they said to him: "Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.6And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord7Then the Lord said to Samuel: "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them10And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him11And he said: "This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots12And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots13Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers14Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants15Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants16Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work17Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants18And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.19But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: "By no means! For there shall be a king over us20and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them to the ears of the Lord22Then the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Let each one go to his own city.
Mark
1And after some days, he again entered into Capernaum2And it was heard that he was in the house. And so many gathered that there was no room left, not even at the door. And he spoke the word to them3And they came to him, bringing a paralytic, who was being carried by four men4And when they were not able to present him to him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. And opening it, they lowered down the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying5Then, when Jesus had seen their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you.6But some of the scribes were sitting in that place and thinking in their hearts7"Why is this man speaking in this way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins, but God alone?8At once, Jesus, realizing in his spirit that they were thinking this within themselves, said to them: "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up, take up your stretcher, and walk?10But so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic11"I say to you: Rise up, take up your stretcher, and go into your house.12And immediately he got up, and lifting up his stretcher, he went away in the sight of them all, so that they all wondered. And they honored God, by saying, "We have never seen anything like this.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, authority, and the divine plan. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' demand for a king, despite Samuel's warnings about the consequences. This story highlights a pivotal moment in Israel's history, marking a shift from theocratic rule to monarchy. The Israelites, influenced by surrounding nations, seek a king to lead them, reflecting a desire for human governance over divine leadership. Samuel, though displeased, relays God's message, warning of the burdens a king will bring, yet the people persist, choosing earthly rule over God's sovereignty.
In the Gospel of Mark, we witness Jesus' encounter with a paralytic. The man's friends demonstrate unwavering faith by breaking through the roof to bring him to Jesus. Jesus, perceiving their faith, forgives the man's sins and heals him, countering the scribes' skepticism about His authority. This miracle underscores Jesus' divine power to forgive sins and heal, challenging the religious leaders' understanding of God's authority.
These readings intersect by illustrating the tension between human desire and divine will. The Israelites choose a king over God's direct rule, while the scribes question Jesus' authority. Both stories emphasize the importance of trusting God's plan and recognizing His sovereignty. The paralytic's healing, facilitated by his friends' faith, contrasts with the Israelites' lack of trust, highlighting the transformative power of faith in God's authority.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God's plan rather than rely solely on human solutions. They encourage us to recognize that true freedom and fulfillment come from following God, not from earthly systems or desires. The moral lesson is clear: place your trust in God, for His ways are higher than our own. Just as the paralytic found healing through faith, we too can experience liberation by trusting in Jesus' authority and divine plan.