Daily Readings - Mon Feb 05 2024
1 Kings
1Then all those greater by birth of Israel, with the leaders of the tribes and the rulers of the families of the sons of Israel, gathered together before king Solomon at Jerusalem, so that they might carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, from the city of David, that is, from Zion2And all of Israel assembled before king Solomon, on the solemn day in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month3And all the elders of Israel arrived, and the priests took up the ark4And they carried the ark of the Lord, and the tabernacle of the covenant, and all the vessels of the Sanctuary, which were in the tabernacle; and the priests and the Levites carried these5Then king Solomon, and the entire multitude of Israel, who had assembled before him, advanced with him before the ark. And they immolated sheep and oxen, which could not be numbered or estimated6And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the oracle of the temple, in the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim7For indeed, the cherubim extended their wings over the place of the ark, and they protected the ark and its bars from above9Now inside the ark, there was nothing other than the two tablets of stone, which Moses had placed in it at Horeb, when the Lord formed a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they departed from the land of Egypt10Then it happened that, when the priests had exited from the Sanctuary, a cloud filled the house of the Lord11And the priests were unable to stand and minister, because of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord12Then Solomon said: "The Lord has said that he would dwell in a cloud13Building, I have built a house as your dwelling place, your most firm throne forever.
Mark
53And when they had crossed over, they arrived in the land of Genesaret, and they reached the shore54And when they had disembarked from the boat, the people immediately recognized him55And running throughout that entire region, they began to carry on beds those who had maladies, to where they heard that he would be56And in whichever place he entered, in towns or villages or cities, they placed the infirm in the main streets, and they pleaded with him that they might touch even the hem of his garment. And as many as touched him were made healthy
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the presence of God in our lives and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from 1 Kings, we witness the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, a moment of profound significance for the Israelites. Solomon, the king, brings the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple, and as the priests place it in the Holy of Holies, the glory of God fills the house in the form of a cloud. This moment signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise to dwell among His people, a promise that goes back to the time of Moses. The cloud, which once guided the Israelites through the wilderness, now takes up residence in the Temple, symbolizing God’s abiding presence among them.
In the Gospel, Mark paints a vivid picture of Jesus’ healing ministry. After crossing over to the land of Genesaret, Jesus is immediately recognized, and people from all over bring their sick to Him. The text emphasizes the people’s faith and their desire to touch even the hem of His garment, a gesture of humility and trust. As many as touched Him were healed, demonstrating the power of God at work through Jesus. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the living Temple, the dwelling place of God’s presence, and that His touch brings healing and restoration.
These readings remind us that God’s presence is not confined to a physical structure but is alive and active in our lives. Like the Israelites who gathered at the Temple, we are called to seek God’s presence in our midst. And like the people in the Gospel, we are invited to approach Jesus with faith, trusting in His power to heal and transform us. May we, too, recognize the cloud of God’s glory in our lives, and may we reach out with faith to touch the hem of His garment, knowing that He is always near, ready to bring light and life to our darkest places.