Daily Readings - Sat Feb 05 2022
1 Kings
4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.6And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.7And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.9Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
Mark
30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.32And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of faith and leadership. The first reading from 1 Kings 3:4-13 presents Solomon, the newly appointed king, who seeks wisdom from God. Recognizing his limitations, Solomon humbly asks for a discerning heart to lead God's people justly. God, pleased with Solomon's request, grants him not only wisdom but also wealth and glory. This passage underscores the importance of humility and seeking divine guidance in leadership.
The Gospel reading from Mark 6:30-34 shifts our focus to Jesus and His disciples. After a busy period of ministry, Jesus encourages the disciples to rest in a deserted place. However, their solitude is short-lived as crowds gather, and Jesus, with compassion, teaches them. This scene highlights the balance between rest and service, reminding us that even in rest, we are called to be attentive to the needs of others.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own approach to life and faith. Like Solomon, we are called to seek wisdom and humility, recognizing our need for God's guidance. Like Jesus, we are reminded to trust in God's plan, even when our plans are interrupted. In our daily lives, let us embrace moments of rest to rejuvenate and listen to God's voice, while also being compassionate and present to those around us. May we prioritize spiritual growth and service, trusting that God will provide the wisdom and strength we need.