Daily Readings - Mon Feb 03 2020
2 Samuel
13And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.30And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.6And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:8The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.12It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
Mark
1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:4Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.13And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God's providence amidst suffering.
First, we see King David in a moment of deep vulnerability. Faced with betrayal by his own son, Absalom, David chooses humility over retaliation. As Shimei curses him, David's response is one of trust in God's plan, acknowledging that his affliction might be a divine allowance. His humility and acceptance exemplify a deep faith in God's justice and mercy.
In the Gospel, we meet a man tormented by many demons, known as Legion. Jesus frees him, demonstrating His power over evil. The man, now at peace, is commissioned to share his story, spreading the news of God's mercy. This narrative highlights the transformative power of faith and the call to witness to God's grace.
Both stories connect through the theme of trusting God during suffering. David's humility and the man's liberation illustrate that our trials, though daunting, are opportunities to trust in God's plan. In our own struggles, we are called to embrace faith, knowing that God's providence can turn our darkness into light. Let us, like David, humbly trust in God's plan and, like the healed man, share the story of God's mercy in our lives.