Daily Readings - Mon Feb 05 2024
1 Kings
1Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David.2All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.3When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,4and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up,5and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.6The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.7The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles.9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.10When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.11And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.12Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;13I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."
Mark
53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.56And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the presence of God in our lives and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from 1 Kings, we witness the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, a moment of profound significance for the Israelites. Solomon, the king, brings the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple, and as the priests place it in the Holy of Holies, the glory of God fills the house in the form of a cloud. This moment signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise to dwell among His people, a promise that goes back to the time of Moses. The cloud, which once guided the Israelites through the wilderness, now takes up residence in the Temple, symbolizing God’s abiding presence among them.
In the Gospel, Mark paints a vivid picture of Jesus’ healing ministry. After crossing over to the land of Genesaret, Jesus is immediately recognized, and people from all over bring their sick to Him. The text emphasizes the people’s faith and their desire to touch even the hem of His garment, a gesture of humility and trust. As many as touched Him were healed, demonstrating the power of God at work through Jesus. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the living Temple, the dwelling place of God’s presence, and that His touch brings healing and restoration.
These readings remind us that God’s presence is not confined to a physical structure but is alive and active in our lives. Like the Israelites who gathered at the Temple, we are called to seek God’s presence in our midst. And like the people in the Gospel, we are invited to approach Jesus with faith, trusting in His power to heal and transform us. May we, too, recognize the cloud of God’s glory in our lives, and may we reach out with faith to touch the hem of His garment, knowing that He is always near, ready to bring light and life to our darkest places.