Reading 1 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
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 PS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
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.
Alleluia Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 2:13-17
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.”
AS I AM, BUT NOT AS I WILL BE
"People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the righteous." –Mark 2:17, our transl.
Saul, the first king of Israel, was outwitted by some asses shortly before he was anointed king (1 Sm 9:4). Then Saul asked Samuel, the seer, where the seer was. Samuel responded that Saul could see the seer right before his eyes, because Samuel was the seer (1 Sm 9:18-19). Saul seemed to have trouble doing anything right. Saul tried to get out of being made king by "hiding among the baggage" (1 Sm 10:22). He didn't do that right either, for they found him and made him king. Nevertheless, the Lord accepted Saul as he was and anointed him. The Lord accepts us just as we are. He has "come to call sinners" (Mk 2:17).
After the Lord accepts us as we are, He refuses to accept our staying as we are. He calls us to repentance and growth in holiness. He even became a human being and died on the cross to make it possible for us to receive a new nature and to become holy as He is holy (see 1 Pt 1:16).
The Lord invites everyone to His wedding banquet. All are to come as they are but not stay as they are. We must put on the wedding garment of righteousness and holiness, or we will be bound and thrown "out into the night to wail and grind" our teeth (Mt 22:13). Come as you are to no longer be as you are.
| PRAYER: | Father, make me holy in every aspect of my conduct (1 Pt 1:15). |
| PROMISE: | "You gladdened him with the joy of Your presence." –Ps 21:7 |
| PRAISE: | Margaret uses holy water frequently to remind herself to be holy. |
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