Daily Readings - Mon Feb 05 2024

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 transformative power of faith. In the first reading from 1 Kings, we witness the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, a moment of profound significance for the Israelites. Solomon, the king, brings the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple, and as the priests place it in the Holy of Holies, the glory of God fills the house in the form of a cloud. This moment signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise to dwell among His people, a promise that goes back to the time of Moses. The cloud, which once guided the Israelites through the wilderness, now takes up residence in the Temple, symbolizing God’s abiding presence among them. In the Gospel, Mark paints a vivid picture of Jesus’ healing ministry. After crossing over to the land of Genesaret, Jesus is immediately recognized, and people from all over bring their sick to Him. The text emphasizes the people’s faith and their desire to touch even the hem of His garment, a gesture of humility and trust. As many as touched Him were healed, demonstrating the power of God at work through Jesus. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the living Temple, the dwelling place of God’s presence, and that His touch brings healing and restoration. These readings remind us that God’s presence is not confined to a physical structure but is alive and active in our lives. Like the Israelites who gathered at the Temple, we are called to seek God’s presence in our midst. And like the people in the Gospel, we are invited to approach Jesus with faith, trusting in His power to heal and transform us. May we, too, recognize the cloud of God’s glory in our lives, and may we reach out with faith to touch the hem of His garment, knowing that He is always near, ready to bring light and life to our darkest places.