Daily Readings - Thu Jan 11 2018
First Reading - 1 Samuel 4.1c-11
1 Samuel
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.9Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Gospel - Mark 1.40-45
Mark
40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.43And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;44And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from 1 Samuel, we see the Israelites facing defeat at the hands of the Philistines. Despite their confidence in the Ark of the Covenant, which they believed would guarantee their victory, they suffer a devastating loss. The Ark, a symbol of God’s presence, is even captured, and the sons of Eli perish. This story reminds us that mere symbols of faith, without a deeper connection to God, are insufficient. The Israelites relied on the Ark as a magical solution rather than seeking a genuine relationship with the Lord.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of faith. A leper, marginalized and suffering, approaches Jesus with humility and trust. He doesn’t demand healing but simply asks, “If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.” Jesus, moved by compassion, reaches out and heals him. This moment highlights the power of sincere faith and the transformative love of God. Unlike the Israelites, who trusted in the Ark but neglected their relationship with God, the leper trusts in Jesus’ willingness to act, and his faith is rewarded.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith. Do we, like the Israelites, rely on external symbols or rituals without nurturing a deeper connection to God? Or do we, like the leper, approach God with humility and trust, recognizing His power and love? In our daily lives, we are called to move beyond superficial expressions of faith and instead cultivate a personal, heartfelt relationship with the Lord. Let us trust in His goodness, even in the midst of uncertainty, and allow His love to transform us.