FIRST READING
Samuel anointed David in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.
A reading from the first Book of Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
In those days: The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. ’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 89:20.21-22.27-28 (R. 21a)
R/. I have found my servant David.
Then you spoke in a vision.
To your faithful ones you said,
“I have set the crown on a warrior,
I have exalted one chosen from the people. R/.
I have found my servant David,
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him,
and my arm shall make him strong. R/.
He will call out to me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock of my salvation. ‘
I for my part will make him my firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth. R.
ALLELUIA Ephesians 1:17-18
Alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:23-28)
It happened that one Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain-fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Humans are sometimes possessed by possessions and power, thinking that they are in charge. Truly, only God is in charge! We are just caretakers. The earlier we realise this, the better and happier we become. Saul thought otherwise and learned a bitter lesson. God chose another king in his place. God’s spirit departed from Saul, and rested on David. God never runs out of alternatives as he accomplishes his purposes. As privileged instruments in God’s hands, we must apply ourselves and resources unreservedly and obediently, knowing that we are not indispensable. God can always raise new instruments, even from the stones. Once we know our humble place, we begin to see others/creation through God’s eyes. Lord, open my eyes to see your face in others. Amen