Daily Readings - Sat Jan 13 2024

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 profound moments of divine calling and transformation. First, in the First Book of Samuel, we meet Saul, a young man from the tribe of Benjamin, who is unexpectedly anointed by the prophet Samuel to become the first king of Israel. This moment marks a significant shift in Israel's history, as God chooses a leader not based on outward appearances but on the condition of his heart. Saul, though initially hesitant and unaware of his destiny, is called to lead God's people, demonstrating that God often selects the humble and unexpected for great tasks. In the Gospel of Mark, we see another kind of calling—Jesus' call to Levi, a tax collector, who immediately leaves his post to follow Jesus. This act of mercy and inclusion sparks controversy, as the Pharisees question why Jesus would associate with sinners. Jesus responds by emphasizing that his mission is not to call the righteous but to heal the broken, reminding us that God's love is not limited to the perfect but extends to all, especially those on the margins. These readings invite us to reflect on our own calling and how we respond to God's invitation in our lives. Like Saul, we may feel unworthy or unprepared, but God sees beyond our limitations and equips us for His purposes. Like Levi, we are called to leave behind our old ways and follow Jesus, trusting in His mercy and grace. In our daily lives, let us embrace this call to humility, openness, and compassion, remembering that God's plan often unfolds in unexpected ways, and His love is always reaching out to the least expected.