Daily Readings - Wed Jan 22 2020
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 stories that invite us to reflect on trust, compassion, and courage. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of David and Goliath, where David, a young shepherd, trusts in God's power to defeat the giant Goliath. Despite the odds, David's faith prevails, demonstrating that true strength comes from God. The Gospel from Mark shares the story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' legalism. Jesus prioritizes compassion, showing that doing good is always in line with God's will.
Both stories highlight the theme of standing against societal or religious expectations. David is dismissed for his youth, yet his trust in God leads to victory. Similarly, Jesus faces opposition for healing on the Sabbath, yet His compassion and commitment to God's commandment shine through. These narratives connect through their emphasis on trusting God and doing what is right, even when it goes against the norm.
In our daily lives, these stories inspire us to face challenges with faith and courage. They remind us to trust in God's plan and to act with compassion, even when it's difficult. Let us prioritize love and trust in God, just as David and Jesus did, and stand up for what is right, guided by His wisdom and grace.