Daily Readings - Mon Jan 31 2022
2 Samuel
13A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword."30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.
5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.6He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left.7As he cursed, Shimei said, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel!8The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!"9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head."10But the king said, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?'"11David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.12It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today."13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.
Mark
1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"10"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well.17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.19Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on humility, trust in God, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from 2 Samuel presents King David in a moment of profound vulnerability. Fleeing from his son Absalom, David is met with curses from Shimei, a relative of Saul’s family. Despite his royal power, David chooses humility over retaliation, acknowledging that his suffering may be part of God’s plan. His response, “Let him curse, for the Lord has told him to curse,” reveals a deep trust in divine providence, even in the face of injustice and betrayal.
The Gospel reading from Mark offers a striking contrast. Here, we meet a man possessed by a legion of demons, living on the fringes of society, tormented and unbound. Jesus’ encounter with this man is one of compassion and authority. By freeing the man from the grip of evil, Jesus restores him to his right mind and commands him to return to his community to share the news of God’s mercy. This story highlights the transformative power of Christ and the call to witness to God’s love, even in the face of fear and rejection.
These readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. Both David and the demon-possessed man face immense suffering, but their responses reveal the essence of faith. David’s humility and trust in God’s plan, and the healed man’s eagerness to proclaim God’s mercy, remind us that our trials are opportunities to grow closer to God and to share His love with others. In our own lives, when we face challenges or injustices, we are called to respond with humility and trust, knowing that God’s plan is greater than our own. And when we experience God’s mercy, we are compelled to share it with others, just as the healed man did. Let us, like David, trust in God’s providence, and like the man from the Gerasenes, bear witness to the transformative power of Christ in our lives.