Daily Readings - Sat Feb 10 2018
1 Kings
26And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David.27If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."28So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."29And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.30Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.31He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.32And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
33After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places.34And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.
Mark
1In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them,2"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.3And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away."4And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?"5And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."6And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.7And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.8And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.9And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.10And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of worship and God's providence. The first reading from 1 Kings recounts Jeroboam's establishment of idolatrous worship, creating golden calves and unauthorized shrines. This act, driven by political motives to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem, led to widespread sin and the eventual downfall of Jeroboam's dynasty. It underscores the consequences of diverting from true worship and the dangers of human-made religion.
The Gospel, from Mark, presents a stark contrast with the story of Jesus feeding four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. This miracle, a testament to Jesus's divine compassion and power, highlights His role as the true source of nourishment—both physical and spiritual. Unlike Jeroboam's false idols, Jesus provides abundantly, teaching us to trust in God's provision and care.
These readings remind us to examine our own worship and priorities. Just as Jeroboam's actions led the people astray, we must guard against modern "idols" that distract us from true devotion. Jesus's miracle encourages us to seek spiritual nourishment from Him. Let us reflect on our relationship with God, ensuring our worship is directed towards the one true God, and trust in His loving provision for our needs.