Daily Readings - Fri Jan 17 2020
1 Samuel
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.7And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.10And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.22And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
Mark
1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.12And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on authority, faith, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' demand for a king, seeking to emulate other nations. Despite Samuel's warnings about the oppressive nature of human rule, the people insist on a monarchy, rejecting God's direct leadership. This pivotal moment in Israel's history underscores the tension between human ambition and divine governance.
The Gospel from Mark presents a contrasting narrative of authority, as Jesus demonstrates His divine power by forgiving sins and healing a paralytic man. The faith of the man's friends leads to his physical and spiritual restoration, highlighting the transformative power of trust in God. This episode not only affirms Jesus' authority but also illustrates the redemptive nature of His mission.
These readings relate through their exploration of authority—Israel's rejection of God's leadership versus Jesus' divine authority. The Israelites' choice leads to earthly oppression, while Jesus' authority brings liberation and healing. In our lives, we face similar choices: to follow our desires or submit to God's will. The moral lesson is clear: trusting in God's plan, rather than our own understanding, leads to true freedom and fulfillment. Let us embrace Jesus' authority, for in Him lies the power to forgive and heal, guiding us toward a life of faith and trust in God.