Friday, January 20, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Let all the earth adore Thee, O God, and sing to Thee: let it sing a psalm to Thy name, O most High.
-- Psalm lxv. 4


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Samuel 24:3-21
3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5 It happened afterward, that David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh’s anointed.
7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 David said to Saul, Why listen you to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it.
12 Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
13 As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
16 It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 He said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have rendered to me good, whereas I have rendered to you evil.
18 You have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.
20 Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
Psalms: Psalm 57:2-4, 6, 11
2 I cry out to God Most High, To God who accomplishes my requests for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me, He rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the midst of it themselves. Selah.
11 Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
Gospel: Mark 3:13-19
(Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles)
13 He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
14 He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,
15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
16 Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;
17 James the son of Zebedee; John, the brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder;
18 Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. He came into a house.