Daily Readings - Sat Jan 13 2018
1 Samuel
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
Mark
13And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?17When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound stories of divine calling and grace. The first reading from 1 Samuel introduces us to Saul, an ordinary man on an ordinary mission to find his father's donkeys. His unexpected encounter with Samuel, the prophet, leads to his anointing as the first king of Israel. This narrative highlights God's penchant for choosing the unexpected, revealing that His plans often unfold in ways we least anticipate. Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, we witness Jesus extending a call to Levi, a tax collector, and later sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners. This act of inclusion prompts the Pharisees to question Jesus, who responds by emphasizing His mission to call not the righteous, but sinners.
Both readings underscore God's capacity to see beyond the surface, recognizing potential in those society may overlook. Saul's humble search for donkeys and Levi's controversial profession as a tax collector serve as reminders that God's grace is not confined by human judgment. These stories illustrate that divine calling transcends our perceived limitations, inviting us to trust in God's plan, even when it seems unconventional.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and openness to God's will. Like Saul and Levi, we are called to respond to God's invitations with faith, trusting that He has a purpose for us, regardless of our past or present circumstances. This is a call to look beyond our own judgments and societal labels, recognizing that everyone has the potential to be transformed by God's grace. The moral lesson here is one of trust and inclusion: trusting in God's plan and being open to His call, just as Saul and Levi were, and embracing others with the same grace and compassion that Jesus showed to the tax collectors and sinners.