Daily Readings - Sat Jan 15 2022

1 Samuel

1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

Mark

13And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?17When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine calling and transformation. In the first reading from 1 Samuel, we see the humble beginnings of Saul, who is unexpectedly chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. Samuel, the prophet, anoints Saul with oil, signifying God’s favor and the beginning of a new era for His people. This moment is not just about Saul’s elevation but also about God’s trust in him despite his limitations. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Levi, who was considered an outcast by society, is transformed by Jesus’ invitation, leaving behind his old life to become a disciple. These readings remind us that God often chooses the unexpected and the marginalized to carry out His plan. The context of these readings reveals God’s mercy and His desire to reach out to those who feel unworthy or excluded. In 1 Samuel, the Israelites were struggling with leadership, and God chose Saul, a man who was not from a royal lineage, to lead them. This shows that God’s ways are not our ways, and His choices often surprise us. In the Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is marked by His willingness to dine with tax collectors and sinners, scandalizing the religious leaders of the time. Jesus’ response, “The healthy have no need of a doctor, but those who have maladies do,” emphasizes His mission to call sinners to repentance and healing. Both readings highlight God’s love for the broken and His desire to bring them into His fold. These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like Saul and Levi, we are all called by God, not because of our worthiness, but because of His mercy and grace. We are called to embrace our mission, whatever it may be, with humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us also imitate Jesus’ compassion by reaching out to those on the margins, remembering that we are all sinners in need of God’s healing touch. May we respond to God’s call with open hearts, just as Levi did, and may we trust in His plan, even when it seems unexpected or challenging.