Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Title

Desperate People Do Desperate Things

Outline

When people get anxious or desperate, the do desperate things - the results are not good

Look at the riots and revolutions in the various countries around the world

Look at the violence that plagues the USA

Some of these are people who have chosen the bad, but others of these are people who are simply so desperate that they choose the bad over what they see as worse

Our readings give us a negative and then a positive example

First, Samuel gives us a negative example

Samuel is nearing death, so while the prophet is still alive they want him to appoint a hereditary kingship

They do not consider that hereditary succession did not work out well in the case of Gideon or of Samuel himself

They want the security of ongoing warrior leaders rather than having to wait for God to raise up a leader (the people never ask God for one, for they regularly depend on standard human solutions)

They want a human leader whom they can see than the unseen God whom they often have abandoned

They want that leader despite the fact that Samuel points out that he will oppress them - simply to run the government

God gives them what they want. It will not work. But God will redeem it by bringing along David and then great David’s greater son

Second, the four men give us a positive example

They have a paralyzed friend or relative they desperately want to get to Jesus, but no one makes way for them

So they go up on the roof, tear up the roof tiles and let the man down - what a mess! what damage!

Jesus calmly forgives his sins - shocking to the scribes, but apparently not to the four men or the paralytic - then, to make his point clear, he heals the man (people make way for him when he walks out with his stretcher)

This is desperation in seeking God, and God takes this and makes it a vehicle for his goals for his mission

So, brothers and sisters, when you see a need seek God

If you are anxious, seek God

If you are desperate, seek God

Seek his solutions rather than your solutions or you will in the end regret it

And if you are so desperate you cannot wait, then seek him more, even seek him for the ability to wait

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2022: Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

1 Samuel 8:4–7, 10–22a

4 Therefore all the elders of Israel assembled and went to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us.”

6 Samuel was displeased when they said, “Give us a king to rule us.” But he prayed to the LORD. 7 The LORD said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king.

10 Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king. 11 He told them: “The governance of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. 12 He will appoint from among them his commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He will make them do his plowing and harvesting and produce his weapons of war and chariotry. 13 He will use your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will tithe your crops and grape harvests to give to his officials and his servants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves, as well as your best oxen and donkeys, and use them to do his work. 17 He will also tithe your flocks. As for you, you will become his slaves. 18 On that day you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “No! There must be a king over us. 20 We too must be like all the nations, with a king to rule us, lead us in warfare, and fight our battles.” 21 Samuel listened to all the concerns of the people and then repeated them to the LORD. 22 The LORD said: Listen to them! Appoint a king to rule over them. Then Samuel said to the people of Israel, “Return, each one of you, to your own city.”

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2022: Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 89:2

2 I will sing of your mercy forever, LORD

proclaim your faithfulness through all ages.

PSALM

Psalm 89:16–19

16 Blessed the people who know the war cry,

who walk in the radiance of your face, LORD.

17 In your name they sing joyfully all the day;

they rejoice in your righteousness.

18 You are their majestic strength;

by your favor our horn is exalted.

19 Truly the LORD is our shield,

the Holy One of Israel, our king!

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2022: Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Luke 7:16

16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”

GOSPEL

Mark 2:1–12

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. 2 Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” 8 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”— 11 he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” 12 He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2022: Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading 1 Samuel 8:4–7, 10–22a

Response Psalm 89:2

Psalm Psalm 89:16–19

Gospel Acclamation Luke 7:16

Gospel Mark 2:1–12

GREEN