Daily Readings - Tue Jan 30 2018

First Reading - 2 Samuel 18.9-10, 14b, 24-26a, 30 – 19.3

⁹Then it happened that Absalom, riding on a mule, met the servants of David. And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree, his head became trapped in the oak. And while he was suspended between heaven and earth, the mule on which he had been sitting continued on¹⁰Then a certain one saw this and reported it to Joab, saying, "I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.¹¹And Joab said to the man who had reported it to him, "If you saw him, why did you not stab him to the ground, and I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt?¹²And he said to Joab: "Even if you weighed out to my hands one thousand silver coins, I would never lay my hands on the son of the king. For in our hearing the king ordered you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Keep for me the boy Absalom.¹³Then too, if I had acted with such audacity, against my own life, this would never have been able to be hidden from the king. And would you then have stood by my side?¹⁴And Joab said, "It will not be as you wish. Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight." Then he took three lances in his hand, and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom. And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak¹⁵ten young men, armor bearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him, they killed him¹⁶Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and he held back the people, lest they pursue Israel in their flight, for he was willing to spare the multitude¹⁷And they took Absalom, and they threw him into a great pit in the forest. And they piled an exceedingly great heap of stones over him. But all of Israel fled to their own tents¹⁸Now Absalom had raised up for himself, when he was still alive, a monument, which is in the Valley of the King. For he said, "I have no son, and so this shall be the memorial to my name." And he called the monument by his own name. And it is called the Hand of Absalom, even to this day¹⁹Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, "I will run and report to the king that the Lord has accomplished judgment for him, from the hand of his enemies.²⁰And Joab said to him: "You shall not be the messenger on this day. Instead, you shall report on another day. I am not willing for you to give the report today, because the son of the king is dead.²¹Then Joab said to Hushai, "Go, and report to the king what you have seen." Hushai reverenced Joab, and he ran²²And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab again, "What prevents me from running after Hushai also?" And Joab said to him: "Why do you want to run, my son? You would not be the bearer of good news.²³And he responded, "But what if I do run?" And he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz, running along a shorter way, passed Hushai²⁴Now David was sitting between the two gates. Truly, the watchman, who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone²⁵And crying out, he told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth." But as he was advancing and drawing nearer²⁶the watchman saw another man running. And so, crying out from the height, he said: "Another man has appeared, running alone." And the king said, "This one also is a good messenger.²⁷Then the watchman said, "The running of the closest one seems like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and he arrives bearing good news.²⁸Then, Ahimaaz, crying out, said to the king, "Be well, O king." And reverencing the king prone on the ground before him, he said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has enclosed the men who had lifted up their hands against my lord the king.²⁹And the king said, "Is there peace for the boy Absalom?" And Ahimaaz said: "I saw a great tumult, O king, when your servant Joab sent me, your servant. I know nothing else.³⁰And the king said to him, "Pass, and stand here." And when he had passed and stood still³¹Hushai appeared. And approaching, he said: "I bear good news, my lord the king. For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.³²But the king said to Hushai, "Is there peace for the boy Absalom?" And responding, Hushai said to him, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.³³And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: "My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!

Chapter 19

¹Now it was reported to Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for his son²And so the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said on that day, "The king is grieving over his son.³And the people declined to enter the city on that day, in the manner that the people were accustomed to decline if they had turned and fled from battle

Gospel - Mark 5.21-43

Mark

Chapter 5

²¹And when Jesus had crossed in the boat, over the strait again, a great crowd came together before him. And he was near the sea²²And one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, approached. And seeing him, he fell prostrate at his feet²³And he beseeched him greatly, saying: "For my daughter is near the end. Come and lay your hand on her, so that she may be healthy and may live.²⁴And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him, and they pressed upon him²⁵And there was a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years²⁶And she had endured much from several physicians, and she had spent everything she owned with no benefit at all, but instead she became worse²⁷Then, when she had heard of Jesus, she approached through the crowd behind him, and she touched his garment²⁸For she said: "Because if I touch even his garment, I will be saved.²⁹And immediately, the source of her bleeding was dried up, and she sensed in her body that she had been healed from the wound³⁰And immediately Jesus, realizing within himself that power that had gone out from him, turning to the crowd, said, "Who touched my garments?³¹And his disciples said to him, "You see that the crowd presses around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ³²And he looked around to see the woman who had done this³³Yet truly, the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened within her, went and fell prostrate before him, and she told him the whole truth³⁴And he said to her: "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace, and be healed from your wound.³⁵While he was still speaking, they arrived from the ruler of the synagogue, saying: "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?³⁶But Jesus, having heard the word that was spoken, said to the ruler of the synagogue: "Do not be afraid. You need only believe.³⁷And he would not permit anyone to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James³⁸And they went to the house of the ruler of the synagogue. And he saw a tumult, and weeping, and much wailing³⁹And entering, he said to them: "Why are you disturbed and weeping? The girl is not dead, but is asleep.⁴⁰And they derided him. Yet truly, having put them all out, he took the father and mother of the girl, and those who were with him, and he entered to where the girl was lying⁴¹And taking the girl by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha koumi," which means, "Little girl, (I say to you) arise⁴²And immediately the young girl rose up and walked. Now she was twelve years old. And they were suddenly struck with a great astonishment⁴³And he instructed them sternly, so that no one would know about it. And he told them to give her something to eat

Sermon

The readings today present us with two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the human condition, faith, and the divine intervention that shapes our lives. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, we witness the tragic end of Absalom, the rebellious son of King David. Absalom’s death and David’s profound grief remind us of the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of sin and rebellion. David’s sorrow, despite Absalom’s betrayal, reveals the depth of a father’s love and the pain of loss. This story calls us to consider the ways we navigate conflict, forgiveness, and the enduring bonds of love, even in the face of great pain. In the Gospel, Mark presents two miracles that showcase Jesus’ power to heal and restore life. The woman with the hemorrhage, who had suffered for twelve years, finds courage to touch Jesus’ garment and is immediately healed. Her faith, though hidden, is recognized by Jesus, who affirms her healing and restores her dignity. Similarly, Jairus, the synagogue ruler, pleads with Jesus to save his dying daughter. Despite the initial news of her death, Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid, just believe,” bring hope and lead to the miraculous resurrection of the girl. These stories highlight the importance of faith and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of uncertainty and despair. Both readings remind us that life is fragile and marked by suffering, but it is also filled with the possibility of healing and redemption. Like the woman who reached out in faith, we are invited to trust in God’s power to transform our lives. Like Jairus, we are called to hold onto hope, even when circumstances seem hopeless. And like David, we are reminded that love and forgiveness can endure even in the face of great sorrow. Let us turn to God with faith and openness, trusting that He can bring light out of darkness and life out of death.