Wednesday, January 18, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart.
-- Psalm xxxvi. 30-31

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
(David Defeats Goliath)
32 David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
37 David said, Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and Yahweh shall be with you.
40 He took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his wallet; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 
41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him.
42 When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair face.
43 The Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? The Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the field.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 This day will Yahweh deliver you into my hand; and I will strike you, and take your head from off you; and I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky, and to the wild animals of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear: for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.
48 It happened, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 David put his hand in his bag, and took there a stone, and slang it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath of it, and killed him, and cut off his head therewith. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
Psalms: Psalm 144:1-2, 9-10
(A King Thanks God for Victory)
1 Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who teaches my hands to war, And my fingers to battle:
2 My loving kindness, my fortress, My high tower, my deliverer, My shield, and he in whom I take refuge;
Who subdues my people under me.
9 I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.
10 You are he who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
Gospel: Mark 3:1-6
(The Man with a Paralyzed Hand)
1 He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
2 They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
3 He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.”
4 He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent.
5 When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.