Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 13, 2018
First Reading: 1 Samuel 9.1-4, 17-19; 10.1a
1There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.2He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites-a head taller than any of the others.3Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys."4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people."18Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"19"I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?
Psalm 21
1O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!2You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah3You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.4He asked you for life, and you gave it to him- length of days, for ever and ever.5Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.6Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.7For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.8Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.9At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them.10You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.11Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;12for you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.13Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.
Gospel: Mark 2.13-17
13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound stories of divine calling and grace. The first reading from 1 Samuel introduces us to Saul, an ordinary man on an ordinary mission to find his father's donkeys. His unexpected encounter with Samuel, the prophet, leads to his anointing as the first king of Israel. This narrative highlights God's penchant for choosing the unexpected, revealing that His plans often unfold in ways we least anticipate. Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, we witness Jesus extending a call to Levi, a tax collector, and later sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners. This act of inclusion prompts the Pharisees to question Jesus, who responds by emphasizing His mission to call not the righteous, but sinners.
Both readings underscore God's capacity to see beyond the surface, recognizing potential in those society may overlook. Saul's humble search for donkeys and Levi's controversial profession as a tax collector serve as reminders that God's grace is not confined by human judgment. These stories illustrate that divine calling transcends our perceived limitations, inviting us to trust in God's plan, even when it seems unconventional.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and openness to God's will. Like Saul and Levi, we are called to respond to God's invitations with faith, trusting that He has a purpose for us, regardless of our past or present circumstances. This is a call to look beyond our own judgments and societal labels, recognizing that everyone has the potential to be transformed by God's grace. The moral lesson here is one of trust and inclusion: trusting in God's plan and being open to His call, just as Saul and Levi were, and embracing others with the same grace and compassion that Jesus showed to the tax collectors and sinners.