Saturday, January 18 2014 Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish,
who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,
son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man.
There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul;
he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses 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 asses.”
Accordingly 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.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him,
“This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.”

Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said,
“Please tell me where the seer lives.”
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 dismissing you,
I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head;
he also kissed him, saying:
“The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage.
You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel,
and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

“This will be the sign for you
that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Gospel
Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
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.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 18, 2014
YOU ARE CHOSEN FOR GREATNESS

"I have come to call sinners." –Mark 2:17

Saul was outsmarted by some lost asses (1 Sm 9:4). Nevertheless, the Lord chose him to become king and sent Samuel to anoint him (1 Sm 10:1).

Levi (Matthew) was a tax-collector, one of the most sinful occupations in his society (Mk 2:14). Nevertheless, Jesus called Matthew to follow Him (Mk 2:14).

The Lord chooses the most unlikely people to be great in His kingdom. "God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; He singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong. He chose the world's lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God" (1 Cor 1:27-29).

The Lord has chosen you to be great because He has called you to be His child. You must live not a minimalistic, superficial, mediocre life, but rather an abundant, holy, and eternal life. You are so precious that you were purchased at the price of the incarnate God's blood (1 Cor 6:20). You are so important that you can't become more important. You can only become more aware of your greatness in Him.

As unworthy as you are, you are chosen to be great. Become what the Lord has chosen you to be.

PRAYER: Father, may I aspire to greatness and serve the needs of all (Mt 20:26-27).

PROMISE: "People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do." –Mk 2:17

PRAISE: Charlie went to Confession again after many years. Jesus lifted his burden of sin.