Daily Readings - Sat Feb 03 2018
1 Kings
4The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."6Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.7"Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.9So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.11So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-both riches and honor-so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
Mark
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine encounter and human response. In the First Reading from 1 Kings, Solomon, the newly anointed king, is met by God in a dream. Solomon humbly acknowledges his limitations as a young ruler and asks not for wealth, power, or vengeance, but for a “teachable heart” to judge God’s people wisely. This plea resonates deeply with God, who not only grants Solomon wisdom but also bestows upon him the gifts of wealth and glory. The Gospel from Mark presents a complementary scene: Jesus, seeing the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd,” takes pity on them and begins to teach them. Despite the Apostles’ need for rest, Jesus prioritizes the spiritual hunger of the people, embodying the selfless love of a shepherd.
The context of these readings reveals a common theme: the call to prioritize wisdom and compassion in leadership. Solomon’s request for wisdom is set against the backdrop of his new role as king, where the burden of responsibility for his people weighs heavily on him. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, highlights Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing, emphasizing the importance of attending to the spiritual and emotional needs of others. Both readings remind us that true leadership is not about power or prestige but about serving others with humility and love.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we prioritize wisdom and compassion. Like Solomon, we may face moments of uncertainty or responsibility, and we are called to seek God’s guidance with humility. Like Jesus, we are challenged to look beyond our own needs and desires to serve others. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are all called to be shepherds in our own way, offering guidance, care, and love to those around us. The moral lesson here is clear: wisdom and compassion are not optional virtues but essential qualities for living a life that honors God and serves others. Let us, therefore, pray for the grace to seek wisdom and to love selflessly, just as Solomon and Jesus have shown us.