Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Year 2 2024

Title

God Picks the Least

Outline

There are interesting parallels in our readings

In the end of Judges the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out due to its evil. Thus, while Saul is the son of a “powerful man” he is from a tribe with a question mark over it. His handsomeness and height does not help him find the missing donkeys. Yet God is leading him and his slave to his prophet, Samuel, whom Saul would not have visited except that his slave had a couple of coins to offer as a gift for divination. The surprise is that upon meeting Samuel Saul is invited a sacrificial feast prepared with him in mind. The donkeys are found, but not by Saul; they fade from the story as Saul is anointed ruler and Savior of Israel. The sign will be the Holy Spirit’s coming upon him, Saul’s yielding to the Spirit, and his uttering ecstatic speech like the “sons of the prophets.”

Now watch Jesus in the parallel

Jesus is in Galilee, the suspect territory far from Jerusalem. At a border crossing he sees Levi collecting customs duties. Here was a Jew who had made himself a Gentile, about as far from God as one could get. Jesus says to him “Follow me” and Levi simply obeys. Note the parallels to Saul and Samuel.

Now the stories diverge a bit. Levi invites his friends to eat with Jesus and his disciples. Pharisaic criticism is aimed, not at Levi’s origins, but at Jesus for “eating” i.e. defiling himself by sharing food with “tax collectors and sinners.” Jesus responds with, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Jesus does not accept the “sinners” “as they are” but recognizes that, like Israel in Samuel, they need deliverance, a physician. The Holy Spirit is already resident in Jesus for this, since we saw this at Jesus’ baptism. And Levi’s role is not to be a savior but to be an apostle announcing Jesus as savior. In Luke-Acts he will speak in “other tongues” but these are one of the languages of the world, indicating the widening of salvation to the gentiles. Levi, then, is not called to be the physician, but the physician’s assistant.

So what do I see here

God consistently picks the least, those needing salvation, for neither Levi’s money nor Saul’s handsomeness and stature will help him in the end (the stature just makes Saul a target in his last battle). We qualify by accepting that we are unqualified.

God empowers people to be part of his healing, saving mission, not to built their own empires. They have to remain subservient to the Lord as Levi did and Saul failed to do.

And, finally, God does give us abilities, in the case of Saul it was as a sign to him, but in the case of Levi it was to equip him for mission. God also uses our natural abilities, in the case of Saul his stature and in the case of Levi his ability to write (at least in terms of tax records).

There is a consistency to God throughout the history of scripture, but that includes not only choosing the least, but also allowing us to choose whether we will be a Saul who ultimately fails or a Levi who is honored as a saint and apostle.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 1-13-2024: Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

1 Samuel 9:1–4, 17–19, 10:1

1 There was a powerful 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 Israelite more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.

3 Now the donkeys 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 donkeys.” 4 So 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 I told you about; he shall 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 letting you go, I will tell you everything on your mind.

1 Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying: “The LORD anoints you ruler over his people Israel. You are the one who will govern the LORD’s people and save them from the power of their enemies all around them.

“This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you ruler over his heritage:

Catholic Daily Readings 1-13-2024: Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 21:2a

2 LORD, the king finds joy in your power;

in your victory how greatly he rejoices!

PSALM

Psalm 21:2–7

2 LORD, the king finds joy in your power;

in your victory how greatly he rejoices!

3 You have granted him his heart’s desire;

you did not refuse the request of his lips.

Selah

4 For you welcomed him with goodly blessings;

you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.

5 He asked life of you;

you gave it to him,

length of days forever.

6 Great is his glory in your victory;

majesty and splendor you confer upon him.

7 You make him the pattern of blessings forever,

you gladden him with the joy of your face.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-13-2024: Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Luke 4:18

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

GOSPEL

Mark 2:13–17

13  Once again he 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 him. 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 he 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 [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 1-13-2024: Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2024 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Saint Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

First Reading 1 Samuel 9:1–4, 17–19, 10:1

Response Psalm 21:2a

Psalm Psalm 21:2–7

Gospel Acclamation Luke 4:18

Gospel Mark 2:13–17

GREEN or White for BVM