Daily Readings - Sat Jan 27 2018
2 Samuel
1And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.2The rich man had very many flocks and herds,3but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.4Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."5Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,6and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."7Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'11Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.12For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'"13David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die15Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick.16David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.17And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
Mark
35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, repentance, and the divine presence in our lives. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts the story of King David's confrontation with the prophet Nathan. Through a parable, Nathan reveals David's sin of taking Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, and the subsequent consequences. David, upon recognizing his wrongdoing, humbly repents, demonstrating the power of acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness. This story reminds us that true leadership and righteousness come not from power, but from a contrite heart.
The Gospel reading from Mark presents a different yet complementary scenario. Jesus and His disciples encounter a fierce storm while crossing the sea. While the disciples are consumed by fear, Jesus calmly commands the wind and waves to cease, showcasing His divine authority. This miracle not only highlights Jesus' power over creation but also serves as a lesson in trust and faith. Just as the disciples needed to trust in Jesus amidst the storm, we too must trust in God's providence during life's turbulent moments.
Both readings remind us of the importance of faith and repentance. Like David, we must acknowledge our shortcomings and turn to God with sincerity. Like the disciples, we must trust in Jesus' presence and power, even when chaos surrounds us. In our daily lives, let us strive to cultivate this faith and humility, knowing that God's mercy and peace are always within reach. May we, like David, repent with openness, and like the disciples, trust in the calm that only Jesus can bring.