A good leader needs to have the strength and character to do the right thing even when it is not popular - Daily Bible Readings February 7,2014

1ST READING     David is eulogized in the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus in some Bibles). Please note that it does not fail to mention his sinfulness. I think it is much better to be realistic about the faults of a person, dead or alive, when we look up to him as a model. I am disappointed by the saccharine sweet lives of the saints I read that never mention any sinfulness as I know they are unrealistic. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and sinned.   Sirach 47:2-11 2 Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was David in Israel. 3 He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock. 4 As a youth he slew the giant and wiped out the people’s disgrace, when his hand let fly the slingstone that crushed the pride of Goliath. 5 Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm to defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of his people, 6 therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands and praised him when they blessed the Lord. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled 7 and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. 8 With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung. 9 He set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies. He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year 10 so that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. 11 The Lord forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; he conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel.   P S A L M   Psalm 18:31, 47, 50, 51 R: Blessed be God my salvation! 30 [31] God’s way is unerring, the promise of the Lord is fire-tried; he is a shield to all who take refuge in him. (R) 46 [47] The Lord live! And blessed be my Rock! Extolled be God my savior. 49 [50] Therefore will I proclaim you, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praise to your name. (R) 50 [51] You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever. (R)     GOSPEL     Herod is hopelessly beholden to the opinion of others. This is extremely dangerous in a leader as it means he can be easily manipulated, usually for sinister ends. A good leader needs to have the strength and character to do the right thing even when it is not popular. The problem with democracies is that leaders are rarely strong enough within to do this. A true leader thinks of the welfare of the people before his own.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.   Mark 6:14-29 14 King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” 16 But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” 17 Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 23 He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.   think: A good leader needs to have the strength and character to do the right thing even when it is not popular.   T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Romans 13-16