Daily Readings - Thu Jan 13 2022
1 Samuel
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.2The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.3And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies."4So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp,7the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.8Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.9Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight."10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.11And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Mark
40And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."41Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean."42And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.43And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once,44and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them."45But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and obedience. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' defeat at the hands of the Philistines. Despite bringing the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God's presence, they suffer a devastating loss. This story underscores the lesson that mere symbols of faith, without genuine trust and obedience, are insufficient. The Israelites relied on the Ark as a magical solution, yet their lack of true faith led to their downfall. The second reading from Mark presents a stark contrast. A leper approaches Jesus with humility and faith, begging for healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to show himself to the priests as a testimony. However, the leper, overwhelmed with joy, spreads the news widely, forcing Jesus to withdraw to deserted places.
These readings remind us that faith is not about outward symbols or rituals but about a deep, personal trust in God. The Israelites had the Ark but lacked the faith to trust in God's plan. The leper, on the other hand, trusted in Jesus' power and mercy, and his faith was rewarded. Yet, his failure to obey Jesus' instructions highlights the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God. True faith is not just about seeking God's blessings but also about surrendering to His will and following His guidance.
As we reflect on these readings, let us examine our own lives. Do we rely on outward symbols of faith while neglecting a deeper trust in God? Do we seek God's blessings without surrendering to His will? Let us learn from the leper's humility and the Israelites' mistake. True power comes not from symbols or rituals but from a genuine, trusting relationship with God. May we cultivate such faith in our daily lives, seeking to follow God's will with humility and obedience.