Daily Readings - Sat Feb 03 2018

First Reading - 1 Kings 3.4-13

⁴And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.⁵In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.⁶And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.⁷And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.⁸And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.⁹Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?¹⁰And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.¹¹And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;¹²Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.¹³And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

Gospel - Mark 6.30-34

Mark

Chapter 6

³⁰And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.³¹And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.³²And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.³³And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.³⁴And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having 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, is met by God in a dream. Solomon humbly acknowledges his limitations as a young ruler and asks not for wealth, power, or vengeance, but for a “teachable heart” to judge God’s people wisely. This plea resonates deeply with God, who not only grants Solomon wisdom but also bestows upon him the gifts of wealth and glory. The Gospel from Mark presents a complementary scene: Jesus, seeing the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd,” takes pity on them and begins to teach them. Despite the Apostles’ need for rest, Jesus prioritizes the spiritual hunger of the people, embodying the selfless love of a shepherd. The context of these readings reveals a common theme: the call to prioritize wisdom and compassion in leadership. Solomon’s request for wisdom is set against the backdrop of his new role as king, where the burden of responsibility for his people weighs heavily on him. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, highlights Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing, emphasizing the importance of attending to the spiritual and emotional needs of others. Both readings remind us that true leadership is not about power or prestige but about serving others with humility and love. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we prioritize wisdom and compassion. Like Solomon, we may face moments of uncertainty or responsibility, and we are called to seek God’s guidance with humility. Like Jesus, we are challenged to look beyond our own needs and desires to serve others. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are all called to be shepherds in our own way, offering guidance, care, and love to those around us. The moral lesson here is clear: wisdom and compassion are not optional virtues but essential qualities for living a life that honors God and serves others. Let us, therefore, pray for the grace to seek wisdom and to love selflessly, just as Solomon and Jesus have shown us.