Daily Readings - Fri Feb 09 2018

First Reading - 1 Kings 11.29-32; 12.19

²⁹And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:³⁰And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:³¹And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:³²(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

Chapter 12

¹⁹So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

Gospel - Mark 7.31-37

Mark

Chapter 7

³¹And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.³²And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.³³And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;³⁴And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.³⁵And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.³⁶And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;³⁷And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Sermon

The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the prophet Ahijah’s encounter with Jeroboam, where he foretells the division of the kingdom of Israel. This moment marks a turning point in Israel’s history, as God’s judgment on Solomon’s sin leads to the fracturing of the kingdom. The tearing of Ahijah’s cloak into twelve pieces symbolizes the tearing of the kingdom itself, with ten tribes given to Jeroboam and two remaining under Solomon’s descendants. This reading reminds us that sin has consequences, but even in judgment, God remains faithful to his promises, preserving a remnant for the sake of David and Jerusalem. In the Gospel, Mark describes a miracle where Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. This account is rich in symbolism: Jesus’ physical touch and prayer open the man’s ears and release his tongue, signifying not only physical healing but also spiritual awakening. The man’s newfound ability to speak reflects the transformative power of encountering Christ. Despite Jesus’ instruction to keep the miracle quiet, the news spreads, highlighting the irresistible nature of God’s work in the world. This passage invites us to reflect on how we, like the crowd, might respond to God’s wonders in our lives. Both readings, though seemingly distant in context, share a common thread: the transformative power of God’s action in human history. In the first reading, God’s judgment leads to division, yet his faithfulness endures. In the Gospel, God’s mercy brings healing and restoration. For us today, these readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear or difficult. They remind us that sin can separate us from God, but his grace can heal and restore us. Let us ask for the faith to hear God’s voice and to speak of his wonders with joy and gratitude.