Daily Readings - Tue Jan 16 2018
First Reading - 1 Samuel 16.1-13
1 Samuel
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Gospel - Mark 2.23-28
Mark
And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons about divine wisdom and the purpose of religious traditions. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts God's rejection of Saul and the anointing of David, a young shepherd, as the new king. This story highlights God's ability to see beyond outward appearances and choose the humble and unexpected. Samuel, initially deceived by Eliab's stature, learns that true leadership comes from the heart, not physical presence. This teaches us to trust in God's discernment and not judge others by how they look.
The Gospel from Mark complements this theme as Jesus challenges the Pharisees' rigid interpretation of the Sabbath. When his disciples pick grain on the Sabbath, Jesus defends their actions by referencing David's actions when he and his men ate the bread of Presence, which was reserved for priests. Jesus emphasizes that the Sabbath was created for humanity's benefit, not as a restrictive rule. This reminds us that religious practices should serve people, not control them.
Together, these readings invite us to embrace humility and trust in God's plan. They encourage us to look beyond appearances and focus on the heart, just as God did with David. They also remind us that religious laws are meant to enhance life, not restrict it. Let us remain open to God's unexpected ways and trust in His wisdom, just as David was chosen and Jesus taught about the Sabbath.