Daily Readings - Thu Jan 18 2018

First Reading - 1 Samuel 18.6-9; 19.1-7

⁶And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.⁷And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.⁸And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?⁹And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Chapter 19

¹And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.²But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:³And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.⁴And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:⁵For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?⁶And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.⁷And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

Gospel - Mark 3.7-12

Mark

Chapter 3

⁷But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,⁸And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.⁹And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.¹⁰For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.¹¹And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.¹²And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on jealousy, loyalty, and the divine plan. The first reading from 1 Samuel reveals the growing tension between King Saul and David. Saul, once celebrated as a warrior, becomes consumed by envy when David’s victory over Goliath earns him greater acclaim. The women’s song—“Saul has slain thousands, and David tens of thousands”—ignites Saul’s anger and insecurity. This jealousy leads him to plot against David, even though David has done nothing wrong. Yet, in the midst of this danger, we see the loyalty and courage of Jonathan, Saul’s own son, who stands up for David and pleads with his father to spare his life. Jonathan’s actions remind us of the importance of standing by the truth, even when it is difficult. The Gospel reading from Mark offers a striking contrast. Jesus, having withdrawn to the sea with his disciples, is surrounded by a massive crowd eager to be healed and to hear his teachings. The unclean spirits recognize Jesus as the Son of God and fall prostrate before him, but Jesus silences them. This moment highlights the humility of Jesus, who, despite his divine power, does not seek to draw attention to himself. Instead, he focuses on healing and serving others. The contrast between Saul’s jealousy and Jesus’ humility is profound. While Saul’s fear of losing his status leads him to sin, Jesus’ humility and trust in God’s plan allow him to fulfill his mission without seeking glory for himself. These readings call us to examine our own hearts and actions. Do we, like Saul, allow jealousy or insecurity to cloud our judgment and lead us astray? Or do we, like Jonathan, stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult? And do we, like Jesus, embrace humility and trust in God’s plan, even when the world seeks to elevate us? Let us ask for the grace to recognize God’s work in others, to remain loyal to the truth, and to serve with humility. May we trust in God’s plan, knowing that true greatness is found not in power or recognition, but in love and service to others.