Daily Readings - Sat Jan 15 2022
1 Samuel
1There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth.2And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys."4And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people."18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"19Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, "Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.
Mark
13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.15And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"17And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine calling and transformation. In the first reading from 1 Samuel, we see the humble beginnings of Saul, who is unexpectedly chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. Samuel, the prophet, anoints Saul with oil, signifying God’s favor and the beginning of a new era for His people. This moment is not just about Saul’s elevation but also about God’s trust in him despite his limitations. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Levi, who was considered an outcast by society, is transformed by Jesus’ invitation, leaving behind his old life to become a disciple. These readings remind us that God often chooses the unexpected and the marginalized to carry out His plan.
The context of these readings reveals God’s mercy and His desire to reach out to those who feel unworthy or excluded. In 1 Samuel, the Israelites were struggling with leadership, and God chose Saul, a man who was not from a royal lineage, to lead them. This shows that God’s ways are not our ways, and His choices often surprise us. In the Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is marked by His willingness to dine with tax collectors and sinners, scandalizing the religious leaders of the time. Jesus’ response, “The healthy have no need of a doctor, but those who have maladies do,” emphasizes His mission to call sinners to repentance and healing. Both readings highlight God’s love for the broken and His desire to bring them into His fold.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like Saul and Levi, we are all called by God, not because of our worthiness, but because of His mercy and grace. We are called to embrace our mission, whatever it may be, with humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us also imitate Jesus’ compassion by reaching out to those on the margins, remembering that we are all sinners in need of God’s healing touch. May we respond to God’s call with open hearts, just as Levi did, and may we trust in His plan, even when it seems unexpected or challenging.