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Wednesday – 15 January 2014
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Verses:
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10
Mark 1:29-39
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
The Lord Calls Samuel
3 The boy Samuel ministered before
the Lord under Eli. In those days the
word of the Lord was rare; there were not many
visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming
so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel
was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the
ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And
he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he
went and lay down.
6 Again the Lord called,
“Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called
me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet
been revealed to him.
8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here
I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling
the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and
lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your
servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The Lord came and
stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
19 The Lord was with
Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized
that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10
2 He lifted me
out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
7 Then I said,
“Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim your
saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.
Mark 1:29-39
Jesus Heals Many
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they
went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever,
and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So
he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she
began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people
brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The
whole town gathered at the door, 34 and
Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but
he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place
35 Very early in the morning, while it was
still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place,
where he prayed. 36 Simon and his
companions went to look for him, 37 and
when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let
us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is
why I have come.” 39 So he traveled
throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
It cannot be doubted that the poor can more easily attain the blessing
of humility than those who are rich. In the case of the poor, the lack of
worldly goods is often accompanied by a quiet gentleness, whereas the rich are
more prone to arrogance. Nevertheless, many wealthy people are disposed to use
their abundance not to swell their own pride but to perform works of
benevolence. They consider their greatest gain what they spend to alleviate the
distress of others. This virtue is open to all men, no matter what their class
or condition, because all can be equal in their willingness to give, however
unequal they may be in earthly fortune.
-- Pope St. Leo the Great
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Source:
New
International Version (NIV)
Photos acquired thru Google search
