Daily Readings - Mon Jan 29 2024
2 Samuel
13And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom."14Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword."30But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
5When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually.6And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.7And Shimei said as he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!8The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood."9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."10But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"11And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.12It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today."13So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust.
Mark
1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.2And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.3He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.7And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."8For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"9And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many."10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.11Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,12and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them."13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.14The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened.15And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.16And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs.17And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him.19And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."20And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on humility, trust in God, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from 2 Samuel portrays King David in a moment of profound humility as he flees from his son Absalom. Despite being a king, David chooses not to retaliate against Shimei's curses but instead trusts in God's providence, acknowledging that his suffering might be a form of divine purification. This response highlights David's deep faith and humility, even in the face of great adversity.
The Gospel from Mark presents a striking contrast with the story of the man possessed by Legion. This man, marginalized and tormented by unclean spirits, finds liberation through Jesus' compassion. Jesus' power over evil spirits is evident as He heals the man and sends the spirits into a herd of pigs. The man's transformation is so profound that he becomes a witness to Jesus' power, sharing his testimony with others. This narrative underscores the transformative impact of encountering Jesus and the importance of sharing our experiences of God's grace with others.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own responses to adversity and the role of faith in our lives. Like David, we are called to embrace humility and trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Like the man with Legion, we are reminded of the healing power of Jesus and the call to share our testimony with others. May we, like these figures, find the strength to face our challenges with faith and humility, and may our encounters with Jesus transform us and inspire others to seek His healing power.