Daily Readings - Wed Jan 31 2018

First Reading - 2 Samuel 24.2, 9-17

²And the king said to Joab, the leader of his army, "Travel through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, so that I may know their number.⁹Then Joab gave the number of the description of the people to the king. And there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand able-bodied men, who might draw the sword; and of Judah, five hundred thousand fighting men¹⁰Then the heart of David struck him, after the people were numbered. And David said to the Lord: "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But I pray that you, O Lord, may take away the iniquity of your servant. For I have acted very foolishly.¹¹And David rose up in the morning, and the word of the Lord went to Gad, the prophet and seer of David, saying¹²"Go, and say to David: ‘Thus says the Lord: I present to you a choice of three things. Choose one of these, whichever you will, so that I may do it to you.’ ¹³And when Gad had gone to David, he announced it to him, saying: "Either seven years of famine will come to you in your land; or you will flee for three months from your adversaries, and they will pursue you; or there will be a pestilence in your land for three days. Now then, deliberate, and see what word I may respond to him who sent me.¹⁴Then David said to Gad: "I am in great anguish. But it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.¹⁵And the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people, from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men¹⁶And when the Angel of the Lord had extended his hand over Jerusalem, so that he might destroy it, the Lord took pity on the affliction. And he said to the Angel who was striking the people: "It is enough. Hold back your hand now." And the Angel of the Lord was beside the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite¹⁷And when he had seen the Angel cutting down the people, David said to the Lord: "I am the one who sinned. I have acted iniquitously. These ones who are the sheep, what have they done? I beg you that your hand may be turned against me and against my father’s house.

Gospel - Mark 6.1-6

Mark

Chapter 6

¹And departing from there, he went away to his own country; and his disciples followed him²And when the Sabbath arrived, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many, upon hearing him, were amazed at his doctrine, saying: "Where did this one get all these things?" and, "What is this wisdom, which has been given to him?" and, "Such powerful deeds, which are wrought by his hands!³"Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? Are not his sisters also here with us?" And they took great offense at him⁴And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.⁵And he was not able to perform any miracles there, except that he cured a few of the infirm by laying his hands on them⁶And he wondered, because of their unbelief, and he traveled around in the villages, teaching

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, faith, and humility. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts David's decision to count the people of Israel, a act that stems from a lack of trust in God's providence. This action is met with divine displeasure, leading David to choose a punishment. Opting for three days of pestilence, David's repentance and the people's suffering move God to relent, demonstrating the power of humility and prayer. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus faces rejection in his hometown, where the people's familiarity with him as a carpenter blinds them to his divine mission. Their unbelief hinders Jesus's ability to perform miracles, except for healing a few. This narrative underscores the challenge of recognizing God's presence in humble circumstances and the importance of faith in witnessing divine works. These readings remind us to trust in God's plan and remain open to His presence, even in unexpected forms. Like David, we must acknowledge our shortcomings and seek mercy. Like the people of Nazareth, we must guard against letting familiarity or doubt obscure our faith. May we cultivate humility and trust, allowing God's grace to transform our lives and communities.