Daily Bible Readings - January 14, 2012

1ST READING

Samuel gives in to the people and anoints Saul as king of Israel. The people have chosen him as he is an impressive example of manhood – an imposing figure whom people will respect. Within a few years, Saul will be deposed because of unfaithfulness, and the kingdom will be split into two by the sons of Solomon. The wisdom of men has again proved inferior to the wisdom of God. We need to be careful not to allow ourselves to be deaf to the wisdom of the Lord. We do so at our own peril as the Israelites are about to discover with disastrous consequences.

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
1 There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. 2 He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people. 3 Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” 4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals. 17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” 18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish. 1 Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying: “The Lord anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the Lord’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout. “This will be the sign for you that the Lord has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

P S A L M

Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
1 [2] O Lord, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! 2 [3] You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. 6 [7] For you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face. (R)

GOSPEL

It is important to remember the last line of this passage when we consider our own mission today. We are called to minister the Gospel to those who most need it, not those with whom we are comfortable and certainly not those from whom we can expect something in return. The Church calls this the preferential option for the poor. How do you and I stand in being faithful to this?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.

Mark 2:13-17
13 Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. 14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. 15 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Luke 1-3
think: We need to be careful not to allow ourselves to be deaf to the wisdom
of the Lord.
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Luke 1-3