Daily Readings - Thu Jan 27 2022
2 Samuel
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.25And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you.27For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.28And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."
Mark
21And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?22For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."24And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.25For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between God’s revelation, our response to it, and the consequences of our actions. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, King David humbly sits before the Lord, overwhelmed by the promises God has made to him and his house. David’s prayer is one of awe and gratitude, recognizing that God’s favor is not because of his own worthiness but because of God’s gracious plan. He asks for the fulfillment of God’s word, not out of presumption, but out of trust in God’s faithfulness. This passage reminds us that true leadership and discipleship begin with humility and a deep awareness of God’s sovereignty.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the nature of revelation and responsibility. He uses the image of a lamp to emphasize that nothing done in secret will remain hidden; everything will eventually be revealed. Jesus also warns that the measure we use to judge others will be the same measure used to judge us. This teaching calls us to live with integrity, knowing that our words and actions have consequences. It challenges us to be mindful of how we listen to God’s word and how we put it into practice in our lives. Just as David trusted in God’s promises, we too are called to trust in God’s plan and to live in a way that reflects our commitment to His truth.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about what we believe but also about how we live. Like David, we are called to respond to God’s gifts with humility and gratitude. Like the disciples in the Gospel, we are called to live with transparency and integrity, knowing that our actions and choices will have lasting effects. May we strive to be people of faith who trust in God’s plan, live with integrity, and reflect the light of Christ in all that we do.