Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 326
Reading 1
1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12
When the time of David's death drew near,
he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:
"I am going the way of all flesh.
Take courage and be a man.
Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways
and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees
as they are written in the law of Moses,
that you may succeed in whatever you do,
wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill
the promise he made on my behalf when he said,
'If your sons so conduct themselves
that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart
and with their whole soul,
you shall always have someone of your line
on the throne of Israel.'"
David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
The length of David's reign over Israel was forty years:
he reigned seven years in Hebron
and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,
with his sovereignty firmly established.
Responsorial Psalm
1 Chronicles 29:10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd
R. (12b) Lord, you are exalted over all.
"Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"LORD, you are exalted over all.
Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
Alleluia
Mark 1:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Relying Upon Divine Providence
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. Mark 6:7–8
Why would Jesus instruct the Twelve to go forth to preach with authority but to take nothing with them on the journey? Most people who set out on a journey prepare ahead and make sure to pack what they need. Jesus’ instruction was not so much a lesson in relying upon others for basic needs as it was a lesson on reliance upon divine providence for their ministry.
The material world is good in and of itself. All creation is good. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with having possessions and using them for our good and for the good of those who have been entrusted to our care. But there are times when God wants us to rely more upon Him than upon ourselves. The story above is one of those situations.
By instructing the Twelve to go forth on their mission without bringing the basic necessities of life, Jesus was helping them to trust not only in His providence for those basic needs but also to trust that He would provide for them spiritually in their mission of preaching, teaching and healing. They were given great spiritual authority and responsibility and, for that reason, needed to rely upon the providence of God to a far greater extent than others. Thus, Jesus exhorts them to trust Him regarding their basic needs so that they will also be disposed to trust Him on this new spiritual mission.
The same is true in our lives. When God entrusts us with a mission to share the Gospel with another, He will often do so in a way that requires great trust on our part. He will send us forth “empty-handed,” so to speak, so that we will learn to rely upon His gentle guidance. Sharing the Gospel with another is an incredible privilege, and we must realize that we will be successful only if we rely wholeheartedly upon the providence of God.
Reflect, today, upon those to whom you sense God wants you to reach out to with the Gospel. How do you do this? The answer is quite simple. You do so only by relying upon the providence of God. Step out in faith, listen to His guiding voice every step of the way, and know that His providence is the only way that the Gospel message will be effectively shared.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
THE LAST WORD
“I am going the way of all mankind.” —1 Kings 2:2
David had an eventful life. He was very handsome. With his own hands, he killed both a lion and a bear (1 Sm 17:36). He beheaded the giant Goliath and won victory for the Israelite nation. David was the anointed King of Israel for forty years (1 Kgs 2:11). He escaped several attempts on his life. He was the most successful general in Israelite history. He won many wars and killed thousands of people. His kingdom survived a civil war. He had several wives and dozens of children. One of his children died shortly after birth. David saw 70,000 people die in three days because of his sin (2 Sm 24:15). He wrote many of the psalms. He was a gifted musician. He was a top-notch businessman and the standard by which all kings would be measured in Israelite history. To put it mildly, David had an eventful life.
When David lay on his deathbed, he looked back at his life of pleasure, power, violence, intrigue, sex, money, sin, blessing, worship, success, prosperity, etc. Then David looked at his son Solomon and all he had to say to him was: “Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following His ways and observing His statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees” (1 Kgs 2:3).
In the end, after all is said and done, the meaning of life is: “Obey God.” What we have done in obedience to Him lasts forever; everything else passes away. Obey God. It is our duty and privilege to obey Him.
Prayer: Father, give me daily the grace to desire to obey You. Pour out Your Spirit on me so that I may always do Your will.
Promise: “They went off, preaching the need of repentance. They expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many cures.” —Mk 6:12-13
Praise: Jesus healed Sarah’s deteriorating eyesight. She can now see well enough to drive again.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
The words of David to his son Solomon in 1 Kings 2:4, speak of true dependence and obedience to God which promises blessings for us and for the generations that follow. The words of Jesus in John 6:38 reflect the nature of this total dependence. The disciples were chosen because of their willing obedience to God. They willingly responded by going out in pairs, proclaiming repentance and bringing deliverance and healing to the sick. Scripture exhorts us to be solely accountable to God and be models of true dependence on him. The fruits and results of our mission work are left to God! Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful in the small and the big things in my life.
Prayers
My trustworthy Lord, I accept Your call to go forth and to share Your love and mercy with others. Help me to always rely upon You and Your providence for my mission in life. Use me as You will and help me to trust in Your guiding hand for the upbuilding of Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, make me a channel of your healing power and merciful love that others may find abundant life and freedom in you. Free me from all other attachments that I may joyfully pursue the treasure of your heavenly kingdom. May I witness the joy of the Gospel both in word and deed.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 32: The Mercy of Forgiveness
Throughout life you will be hurt by the sins of others. This is inevitable. The real question to ponder is what you do with this hurt. Will you hold onto it and brew over it? Or will you forgive? But forgiveness is not enough. You must let the Divine Mercy so enter your soul that you not only forgive, but also allow this Mercy to fill your heart with compassion. You must let God’s Mercy inspire you to love deeply. You must come to pray for those who have hurt you and, in doing so, dispense the grace of God to them. You are a dispenser of God’s Mercy when you allow forgiveness to flow from your heart to the hearts of those who have hurt you (See Diary #31).
Humbly ponder your calling to be a dispenser of the compassion of the Heart of Jesus to those who have sinned against you. This is a high calling and requires deep surrender and love. But it is the only way to freedom and is the only way God’s Mercy will fill your own soul.
Lord, I choose, this day, to forgive all who have wronged me. Help that act of Mercy to flood my mind, heart, passions, feelings and every part of my soul. May I be a dispenser of Your perfect and unlimited love for all. Jesus, I trust in You.
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