Daily Readings - Tue Jan 23 2024
2 Samuel
12Now King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.13When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.14David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might,15while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.17They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD.18After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty.19Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
Mark
31Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."33"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!35Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our understanding of community. The first reading from 2 Samuel describes King David's joyful procession as he brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This event marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as David unites the tribes and establishes Jerusalem as the spiritual and political center. The Ark, symbolizing God's presence, is met with celebration, sacrifice, and David's humble dance before the Lord. This passage reminds us of the importance of reverencing God's presence in our lives and the communal nature of worship.
The Gospel from Mark presents a different kind of gathering. Jesus, in the midst of his ministry, is informed that his family is seeking him. His response challenges conventional notions of family: "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother." This teaching emphasizes that our spiritual kinship, rooted in obedience to God's will, transcends biological ties. Jesus is not dismissing his family but expanding the concept of family to include all those who follow God's way.
Together, these readings call us to reflect on how we prioritize God in our lives and how we understand community. Like David, we are invited to rejoice in God's presence and to recognize that worship is not just an individual act but a communal celebration. Like Jesus, we are challenged to broaden our understanding of family to include all those who share our commitment to living according to God's will. Let us ask ourselves: Am I creating space for God's presence in my life? Am I building a community that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God? May we, like David, dance with joy before the Lord and, like Jesus, embrace the expansive love of God that redefines our understanding of family and community.