Daily Readings - Sat Feb 03 2024
1 Kings
4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."6And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.7And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.8And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.11And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
Mark
30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.31And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine encounter and human response. In the First Reading from 1 Kings, Solomon, the newly anointed king of Israel, is met by God in a dream at Gibeon, the great high place. Solomon, humbled by the responsibility placed upon him, asks not for wealth, power, or the defeat of his enemies, but for a “teachable heart” and the wisdom to govern God’s people justly. This plea resonates deeply with God, who not only grants Solomon wisdom but also bestows upon him the gifts of wealth and glory. The reading reminds us that true leadership is rooted in humility and the desire to serve others with discernment and compassion.
In the Gospel, Mark paints a vivid picture of Jesus and his disciples. After a season of intense ministry, Jesus invites his disciples to rest in a deserted place. Yet, when they arrive, they find the place crowded with people seeking Jesus. Instead of turning them away, Jesus takes pity on the crowd, seeing them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He begins to teach them, addressing their spiritual hunger. This passage highlights Jesus’ deep compassion and his commitment to the well-being of those entrusted to his care. It also invites us to reflect on our own response to the needs of others, especially when we feel overwhelmed or in need of rest.
Both readings invite us to consider the qualities of wisdom and compassion. Solomon’s request for a teachable heart and Jesus’ tender care for the crowd remind us that true greatness lies not in power or possessions but in our ability to serve and love. In our daily lives, we are called to seek wisdom in our decisions and to approach others with the same compassion Jesus showed to the crowd. Let us ask for the grace to be humble leaders and loving servants, trusting that God will provide us with all we need to live as His people.