Daily Readings - Mon Feb 10 2020
1 Kings
1Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David.2All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.3When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,4and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up,5and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.6The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.7The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles.9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.10When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.11And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.12Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;13I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."
Mark
53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.56And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two profound moments in scripture that illuminate the presence of God among His people. The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the solemn transfer of the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple in Jerusalem during King Solomon's reign. The Ark, a symbol of God's presence, is placed in the Holy of Holies, and the Temple is filled with a cloud, signifying God's glory. This event marks the dedication of the Temple as a sacred space where God dwells among the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of a physical place for worship and communion with the divine.
The Gospel reading from Mark shifts our focus to the ministry of Jesus in Gennesaret. Here, Jesus' presence brings healing and hope to those who seek Him. The people's eagerness to touch even the hem of His garment underscores their faith in His divine power. This passage highlights Jesus as the new temple, the living presence of God among His people, offering spiritual and physical healing.
These readings beautifully intersect, reminding us that God's presence is not confined to a physical structure but is dynamically alive in our lives. Just as the Israelites trusted in God's presence in the Temple, we are called to trust in Jesus, who embodies the new covenant. In our daily lives, we should seek God's presence in every moment, trusting in His providence and allowing His healing grace to transform us. Let us, like the people in Gennesaret, approach Jesus with faith, knowing His presence brings light and life to our world.