Daily Readings - Mon Feb 07 2022
1 Kings
1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.2And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.3And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.4And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.5And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.6And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.7For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.9There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.10And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,11So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.12Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.13I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
Mark
53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,55And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the presence of God in our lives and the ways in which He reveals Himself to us. In the first reading from 1 Kings, we witness the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, a moment of profound significance for the people of Israel. The ark of the covenant, which held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, was finally placed in the Holy of Holies, symbolizing God’s dwelling among His people. The cloud that filled the Temple signified the divine presence, and Solomon’s words acknowledged that God had chosen to dwell in a cloud, a reminder of His mysterious and transcendent nature. This passage emphasizes the importance of sacred spaces and rituals in connecting us to the divine.
In the Gospel, Mark describes Jesus’ ministry in the region of Genesaret. Wherever Jesus went, people brought their sick to Him, and simply by touching His garments, they were healed. This passage highlights Jesus as the living Temple, the new and definitive dwelling place of God among humanity. Unlike the Temple in Jerusalem, which was a physical structure, Jesus’ presence brought healing and wholeness to all who encountered Him. This shift from the Temple to Jesus underscores the Christian understanding that God’s presence is not confined to a building but is fully revealed in the person of Christ.
These readings remind us that God’s presence is both mysterious and accessible. In the Temple, God’s glory was veiled in a cloud, yet in Jesus, that same glory is revealed in flesh and blood. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to recognize God’s presence in the world around us—in the beauty of creation, in the faces of those we meet, and in the quiet moments of prayer. Like the people in Genesaret, we can bring our needs and struggles to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and transform us. Let us also remember that we are called to be instruments of God’s presence in the world, offering love, compassion, and hope to those around us. May we, like Solomon, acknowledge the mystery of God’s dwelling among us, and may we, like the people in the Gospel, reach out in faith to touch the hem of His garment.