Daily Readings - Wed Jan 31 2018
2 Samuel
2So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people."9And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000.10But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly."11And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,12"Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'"13So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, "Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me."14Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man."15So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men.16And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.17Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house."
Mark
1He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.2And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.4And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household."5And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.6And he marveled because of their unbelief.And he went about among the villages teaching.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, faith, and humility. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts David's decision to count the people of Israel, a act that stems from a lack of trust in God's providence. This action is met with divine displeasure, leading David to choose a punishment. Opting for three days of pestilence, David's repentance and the people's suffering move God to relent, demonstrating the power of humility and prayer.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus faces rejection in his hometown, where the people's familiarity with him as a carpenter blinds them to his divine mission. Their unbelief hinders Jesus's ability to perform miracles, except for healing a few. This narrative underscores the challenge of recognizing God's presence in humble circumstances and the importance of faith in witnessing divine works.
These readings remind us to trust in God's plan and remain open to His presence, even in unexpected forms. Like David, we must acknowledge our shortcomings and seek mercy. Like the people of Nazareth, we must guard against letting familiarity or doubt obscure our faith. May we cultivate humility and trust, allowing God's grace to transform our lives and communities.