Daily Readings - Thu Jan 13 2022
1 Samuel
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.9Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Mark
40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.43And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;44And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and obedience. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' defeat at the hands of the Philistines. Despite bringing the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God's presence, they suffer a devastating loss. This story underscores the lesson that mere symbols of faith, without genuine trust and obedience, are insufficient. The Israelites relied on the Ark as a magical solution, yet their lack of true faith led to their downfall. The second reading from Mark presents a stark contrast. A leper approaches Jesus with humility and faith, begging for healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to show himself to the priests as a testimony. However, the leper, overwhelmed with joy, spreads the news widely, forcing Jesus to withdraw to deserted places.
These readings remind us that faith is not about outward symbols or rituals but about a deep, personal trust in God. The Israelites had the Ark but lacked the faith to trust in God's plan. The leper, on the other hand, trusted in Jesus' power and mercy, and his faith was rewarded. Yet, his failure to obey Jesus' instructions highlights the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God. True faith is not just about seeking God's blessings but also about surrendering to His will and following His guidance.
As we reflect on these readings, let us examine our own lives. Do we rely on outward symbols of faith while neglecting a deeper trust in God? Do we seek God's blessings without surrendering to His will? Let us learn from the leper's humility and the Israelites' mistake. True power comes not from symbols or rituals but from a genuine, trusting relationship with God. May we cultivate such faith in our daily lives, seeking to follow God's will with humility and obedience.