Daily Readings - Thu Jan 11 2024
1 Samuel
1And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.2The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.3When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.6Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,7the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"10So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.11The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Mark
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two very different stories, yet they share a common thread: the importance of faith and trust in God. The first reading from 1 Samuel describes a moment of crisis for the Israelites. Despite their confidence in the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God’s presence, they suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of the Philistines. The Ark, which was meant to inspire faith, becomes a source of false security. The Israelites rely on it as a talisman rather than deepening their relationship with God. This story reminds us that true faith cannot be reduced to rituals or objects; it must be rooted in trust and surrender to God’s will.
In the Gospel, we see a very different kind of faith. A leper, marginalized and suffering, approaches Jesus with humility and trust. He doesn’t demand healing but humbly asks, “If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.” Jesus responds with compassion, touching the leper and restoring him to wholeness. This encounter highlights the transformative power of faith that is personal and relational. The leper’s faith is not in a symbol or a system but in the person of Jesus. His trust opens him to God’s mercy and love.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. Are we like the Israelites, relying on outward signs or rituals without truly surrendering to God? Or are we like the leper, humbly trusting in God’s goodness and mercy? Jesus shows us that true faith is not about control or outward appearances but about openness to God’s love and grace. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I placing my trust? Is it in the symbols of faith, or is it in the living God who desires to heal and restore us? May we learn to approach God with the humility and trust of the leper, knowing that He is always willing to meet us where we are.