Daily Readings - Thu Jan 27 2022
2 Samuel
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?19And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?24You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.25"And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,26so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you.27"O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer.28O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.29Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."
Mark
21He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."24"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between God’s revelation, our response to it, and the consequences of our actions. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, King David humbly sits before the Lord, overwhelmed by the promises God has made to him and his house. David’s prayer is one of awe and gratitude, recognizing that God’s favor is not because of his own worthiness but because of God’s gracious plan. He asks for the fulfillment of God’s word, not out of presumption, but out of trust in God’s faithfulness. This passage reminds us that true leadership and discipleship begin with humility and a deep awareness of God’s sovereignty.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the nature of revelation and responsibility. He uses the image of a lamp to emphasize that nothing done in secret will remain hidden; everything will eventually be revealed. Jesus also warns that the measure we use to judge others will be the same measure used to judge us. This teaching calls us to live with integrity, knowing that our words and actions have consequences. It challenges us to be mindful of how we listen to God’s word and how we put it into practice in our lives. Just as David trusted in God’s promises, we too are called to trust in God’s plan and to live in a way that reflects our commitment to His truth.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about what we believe but also about how we live. Like David, we are called to respond to God’s gifts with humility and gratitude. Like the disciples in the Gospel, we are called to live with transparency and integrity, knowing that our actions and choices will have lasting effects. May we strive to be people of faith who trust in God’s plan, live with integrity, and reflect the light of Christ in all that we do.