Daily Readings - Sat Feb 10 2024
1 Kings
26Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David.27If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam."28After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."29One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.30And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.31Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites.32He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made.
33Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places.34This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.
Mark
1During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,2"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."4His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"5"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied.6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so.7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away,10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two contrasting narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of worship, trust, and God’s providence. The first reading from 1 Kings describes Jeroboam’s decision to create golden calves for the Israelites to worship, a misguided attempt to maintain control over his kingdom. By setting up these idols in Bethel and Dan, Jeroboam led the people away from the true worship of God in Jerusalem. His actions were rooted in fear and a desire for power, but they ultimately led to sin and division. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of substituting false idols for the one true God.
The Gospel, on the other hand, presents a very different picture. In Mark 8, Jesus is moved with compassion for a crowd of four thousand who have been with him for three days without food. Despite the disciples’ doubts about how to feed such a large group, Jesus takes what little they have—seven loaves and a few fish—and multiplies it abundantly, leaving seven baskets of leftovers. This miracle is not just about meeting physical needs; it is a sign of God’s faithfulness and generosity. While Jeroboam sought to manipulate and control, Jesus shows us a God who provides and nourishes, even in times of scarcity.
These readings remind us that true worship is not about creating our own idols or relying on our own strength, but about trusting in God’s providence and surrendering to His will. In our daily lives, we often face moments of scarcity—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Like the disciples, we may doubt whether God can work through what little we have. But the Gospel assures us that when we place our trust in Him, even the smallest offerings can become more than enough. Let us turn away from the false idols of our own making and instead seek to worship God in spirit and truth, trusting in His boundless love and provision.