Daily Readings - Sat Feb 03 2024
1 Kings
4The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."6Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.7"Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.9So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.11So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-both riches and honor-so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
Mark
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine encounter and human response. In the First Reading from 1 Kings, Solomon, the newly anointed king of Israel, is met by God in a dream at Gibeon, the great high place. Solomon, humbled by the responsibility placed upon him, asks not for wealth, power, or the defeat of his enemies, but for a “teachable heart” and the wisdom to govern God’s people justly. This plea resonates deeply with God, who not only grants Solomon wisdom but also bestows upon him the gifts of wealth and glory. The reading reminds us that true leadership is rooted in humility and the desire to serve others with discernment and compassion.
In the Gospel, Mark paints a vivid picture of Jesus and his disciples. After a season of intense ministry, Jesus invites his disciples to rest in a deserted place. Yet, when they arrive, they find the place crowded with people seeking Jesus. Instead of turning them away, Jesus takes pity on the crowd, seeing them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He begins to teach them, addressing their spiritual hunger. This passage highlights Jesus’ deep compassion and his commitment to the well-being of those entrusted to his care. It also invites us to reflect on our own response to the needs of others, especially when we feel overwhelmed or in need of rest.
Both readings invite us to consider the qualities of wisdom and compassion. Solomon’s request for a teachable heart and Jesus’ tender care for the crowd remind us that true greatness lies not in power or possessions but in our ability to serve and love. In our daily lives, we are called to seek wisdom in our decisions and to approach others with the same compassion Jesus showed to the crowd. Let us ask for the grace to be humble leaders and loving servants, trusting that God will provide us with all we need to live as His people.