Daily Readings - Sat Jan 13 2024
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 profound moments of divine calling and transformation. First, in the First Book of Samuel, we meet Saul, a young man from the tribe of Benjamin, who is unexpectedly anointed by the prophet Samuel to become the first king of Israel. This moment marks a significant shift in Israel's history, as God chooses a leader not based on outward appearances but on the condition of his heart. Saul, though initially hesitant and unaware of his destiny, is called to lead God's people, demonstrating that God often selects the humble and unexpected for great tasks.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see another kind of calling—Jesus' call to Levi, a tax collector, who immediately leaves his post to follow Jesus. This act of mercy and inclusion sparks controversy, as the Pharisees question why Jesus would associate with sinners. Jesus responds by emphasizing that his mission is not to call the righteous but to heal the broken, reminding us that God's love is not limited to the perfect but extends to all, especially those on the margins.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own calling and how we respond to God's invitation in our lives. Like Saul, we may feel unworthy or unprepared, but God sees beyond our limitations and equips us for His purposes. Like Levi, we are called to leave behind our old ways and follow Jesus, trusting in His mercy and grace. In our daily lives, let us embrace this call to humility, openness, and compassion, remembering that God's plan often unfolds in unexpected ways, and His love is always reaching out to the least expected.