Daily Readings - Tue Jan 21 2020
1 Samuel
1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."2But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."4Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"5Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."9Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one."10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these."11So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."12So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Mark
23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.24The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"25He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on God’s wisdom, human limitations, and the importance of discernment. The first reading from 1 Samuel reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways. When Samuel is sent to anoint a new king from Jesse’s household, he is tempted to judge by appearances, favoring the tall and strong. Yet, God repeatedly tells him, “Do not look at his appearance… for I see not as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This story teaches us that true leadership and worth are not measured by external qualities but by the depth of one’s heart and faithfulness to God. Jesse’s youngest son, David, though overlooked by human standards, is chosen because God sees his potential and purity of heart.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a similar theme of challenging human assumptions. Jesus and his disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, an act considered unlawful. Jesus responds by referencing David, who, in a time of need, ate the bread of the Presence reserved for priests. He then declares, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” and asserts his authority over the Sabbath. This story reminds us that religious practices, while important, must serve the needs of people rather than become ends in themselves. Like David, we are called to trust in God’s providence and to act with compassion, even when it challenges conventional norms.
These readings encourage us to cultivate humility and trust in God’s plan. Like Samuel, we must learn to look beyond appearances and trust in God’s wisdom. Like Jesus, we must remember that our faith is not about rigid rules but about serving others with love and compassion. May we, like David, allow God to see the depths of our hearts and may we, like Jesus, live with the freedom and courage to do what is right, even when it challenges the status quo.