Daily Readings - Fri Jan 12 2024
1 Samuel
4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.5They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."6But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.7And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.10Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.11He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.12Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.16Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.18When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us.20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."21When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD.22The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Everyone go back to his town."
Mark
1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic,11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, authority, and the divine plan. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' demand for a king, despite Samuel's warnings about the consequences. This story highlights a pivotal moment in Israel's history, marking a shift from theocratic rule to monarchy. The Israelites, influenced by surrounding nations, seek a king to lead them, reflecting a desire for human governance over divine leadership. Samuel, though displeased, relays God's message, warning of the burdens a king will bring, yet the people persist, choosing earthly rule over God's sovereignty.
In the Gospel of Mark, we witness Jesus' encounter with a paralytic. The man's friends demonstrate unwavering faith by breaking through the roof to bring him to Jesus. Jesus, perceiving their faith, forgives the man's sins and heals him, countering the scribes' skepticism about His authority. This miracle underscores Jesus' divine power to forgive sins and heal, challenging the religious leaders' understanding of God's authority.
These readings intersect by illustrating the tension between human desire and divine will. The Israelites choose a king over God's direct rule, while the scribes question Jesus' authority. Both stories emphasize the importance of trusting God's plan and recognizing His sovereignty. The paralytic's healing, facilitated by his friends' faith, contrasts with the Israelites' lack of trust, highlighting the transformative power of faith in God's authority.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God's plan rather than rely solely on human solutions. They encourage us to recognize that true freedom and fulfillment come from following God, not from earthly systems or desires. The moral lesson is clear: place your trust in God, for His ways are higher than our own. Just as the paralytic found healing through faith, we too can experience liberation by trusting in Jesus' authority and divine plan.