Daily Readings - Sat Jan 13 2024
1 Samuel
1There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.2He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites-a head taller than any of the others.3Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys."4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people."18Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"19"I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?
Mark
13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine calling and transformation. First, in the First Book of Samuel, we meet Saul, a young man from the tribe of Benjamin, who is unexpectedly anointed by the prophet Samuel to become the first king of Israel. This moment marks a significant shift in Israel's history, as God chooses a leader not based on outward appearances but on the condition of his heart. Saul, though initially hesitant and unaware of his destiny, is called to lead God's people, demonstrating that God often selects the humble and unexpected for great tasks.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see another kind of calling—Jesus' call to Levi, a tax collector, who immediately leaves his post to follow Jesus. This act of mercy and inclusion sparks controversy, as the Pharisees question why Jesus would associate with sinners. Jesus responds by emphasizing that his mission is not to call the righteous but to heal the broken, reminding us that God's love is not limited to the perfect but extends to all, especially those on the margins.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own calling and how we respond to God's invitation in our lives. Like Saul, we may feel unworthy or unprepared, but God sees beyond our limitations and equips us for His purposes. Like Levi, we are called to leave behind our old ways and follow Jesus, trusting in His mercy and grace. In our daily lives, let us embrace this call to humility, openness, and compassion, remembering that God's plan often unfolds in unexpected ways, and His love is always reaching out to the least expected.