Daily Readings - Thu Jan 11 2024
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 very different stories, yet they share a common thread: the importance of faith and trust in God. The first reading from 1 Samuel describes a moment of crisis for the Israelites. Despite their confidence in the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God’s presence, they suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of the Philistines. The Ark, which was meant to inspire faith, becomes a source of false security. The Israelites rely on it as a talisman rather than deepening their relationship with God. This story reminds us that true faith cannot be reduced to rituals or objects; it must be rooted in trust and surrender to God’s will.
In the Gospel, we see a very different kind of faith. A leper, marginalized and suffering, approaches Jesus with humility and trust. He doesn’t demand healing but humbly asks, “If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.” Jesus responds with compassion, touching the leper and restoring him to wholeness. This encounter highlights the transformative power of faith that is personal and relational. The leper’s faith is not in a symbol or a system but in the person of Jesus. His trust opens him to God’s mercy and love.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. Are we like the Israelites, relying on outward signs or rituals without truly surrendering to God? Or are we like the leper, humbly trusting in God’s goodness and mercy? Jesus shows us that true faith is not about control or outward appearances but about openness to God’s love and grace. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I placing my trust? Is it in the symbols of faith, or is it in the living God who desires to heal and restore us? May we learn to approach God with the humility and trust of the leper, knowing that He is always willing to meet us where we are.