Bible Readings
God promises David that his lineage will endure. The Messiah will come from the house of David. What a tremendous honor this is and what a promise to receive. The truth is even more wondrous that each of us has received an even greater promise – that of the Holy Spirit in baptism. How often do you thank God for the gift of His Spirit? Don’t you think we should do that every day?
2 Samuel 7: 18-19, 24-29
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point? 19 Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD! 24 You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, LORD, have become their God. 25 And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised. 26 Your name will be forever great, when men say, ‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’ and the house of your servant David stands firm before you. 27 It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant, ‘I will build a house for you.’Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you. 28 And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. 29 Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord GOD, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.”
P S A L M
Psalm 132: 1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14
R: The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
1 LORD, remember David and all his anxious care; 2 How he swore an oath to the LORD, vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob. (R) 3 “I will not enter the house where I live, nor lie on the couch where I sleep; 4 I will give my eyes no sleep, my eyelids no rest, 5 till I find a home for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (R) 11 The LORD swore an oath to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.” (R) 12 “If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne.” (R) 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. 14 “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her. (R)
G O S P E L
What is Jesus trying to tell us here? I think His point is a very general one, namely that we have no excuse for not using all the gifts and blessings that He has given us. It does not take any great brilliance to work out how to use the gifts of the Spirit – they are self-explanatory. Therefore we have absolutely no excuse for not using them all to their fullest capacity. Imagine how different the Church would be today if all Christians used their gifts fully. Let us start by using our own before pointing a finger at others.
Mark 4: 21-25
21 Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. 23 Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” 24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
my reflections
think: How often do you thank God for the gift of His Spirit? Don’t you think we should do that every day?
