Daily Readings - Wed Jan 17 2018
1 Samuel
32David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."33Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."37The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."40Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.41Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.42He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him.43He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.44"Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"45David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.46This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.47All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."48As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.49Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.50So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.51David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
Mark
1Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."4Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust in God and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the iconic story of David and Goliath. David, a young shepherd, faces the giant Goliath with nothing but a sling and stone, yet his unwavering faith in God leads him to victory. This story reminds us that true strength comes not from human might but from trusting in the Lord. The context of this story is one of fear and doubt among the Israelites, but David's courage, rooted in his relationship with God, shows that even the most daunting challenges can be overcome when we place our trust in Him.
The Gospel from Mark presents a different kind of challenge. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, which provokes the Pharisees and Herodians to plot against Him. This reading highlights the tension between rigid legalism and the compassionate heart of God. Jesus' actions demonstrate that love and mercy should always take precedence over strict adherence to rules. The context here is the Pharisees' obsession with the law, which blinds them to the greater good. Jesus' response shows us that faith is not about following rules but about living out God's love in the world.
Both readings remind us to trust in God's power and to prioritize love and compassion in our lives. Like David, we may face giants in our own lives—challenges that seem insurmountable. But if we place our trust in God, we can overcome them. Like Jesus, we are called to live out our faith in ways that bring healing and hope to others, even when it means challenging the status quo. Let us reflect on how we can apply this trust and compassion in our daily lives, seeking to be instruments of God's love in a world that often values power over people.