27 January 2022. Thursday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

St. Angela Merici  (Opt. Memorial)

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29

David gives thanks for God’s everlasting faithfulness

King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God! And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Responsorial: Psalm 131:1-5, 11-14

Response: God will give him the throne of David, his father

O Lord, remember David
and all the hardships he endured,
the oath he swore to the Lord,
his vow to the Strong One of Jacob.

‘I will not enter the house where I live
nor go to the bed where I rest.
I will give no sleep to my eyes
to my eyelids will give no slumber
till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.’

The Lord swore an oath to David;
he will not go back on his word:
‘A son, the fruit of your body,
will I set upon your throne.

‘If they keep my covenant in truth
and my laws that I have taught them,
their sons also shall rule on your throne
from age to age.’

For the Lord has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his dwelling:
‘This is my resting-place for ever,
here have I chosen to live.’

Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

To those who have more will be given; from the have-nots, the little they have will be taken away

Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

Still more to be given

As we hear David thanking God for giving the royal honour to him and his family, little did he realize how the divine promises to him would be fulfilled on a higher plane when Jesus took his place as king, at the Father’s right hand. In a way beyond David’s understanding, these prophetic words were fulfilled: “the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

The Gospel calls for generosity (“in full measure”) if we are to taste the promised fullness of grace, “still more will be given you.” By staying close to Jesus, our lamp will not stay hidden but will be set on a lampstand. Extending that metaphor a little, the light of our lamp can help others find their way to God.

We must not hide the light of our faith but let it shine out. We need to show our relationship with Christ by the way we live our lives. On the other hand, we are not to parade our piety in order to win credit from others. What is needed is a quiet faithfulness, to give glory to God.

The question is worth asking, “For whose benefit do I do what I do? Is it for myself or the ones I serve?” Ultimately, do I try to do what God wants of me? The opening petitions of the Lord’s Prayer points us in the right direction, “Hallowed by your name, your kingdom come.”