2nd Week in Ordinary Time
20th January 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
In those days: After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. [And David said:] “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11 (R. 2a)
R/.Let your face shine on us, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Open our hearts, O Lord, that we may pay attention to the words of your Son.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Mark 3:20-21
At that time: Jesus went home with his disciples, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Different from the world!
Guidlines: Those who are humble, honest, and committed are certainly different from the world. The world misunderstands and misjudges them only according to its perspective and standards
1. There is always a sharp contrast between the ways of God and the ways of the world. The ways of those who follow the Lord are not rightly understood or appreciated by those who follow the ways of the world.
2. The reason is quite clear: Those who are on God’s side are in the light and truth. Their ways are just and fraternal. They are sincere and authentic. But those who are infected by the world are in the dark and falsity. They are unjust and uncharitable. They are dishonest and hypocritical.
3. This difference causes a big distaste and resentment against those who are godly. In consequence, they are misjudged and even criticized and labelled to be “out of their senses”. They are considered to be foolish, not shrewd and prudent enough, not tactical and clever. They are thought to be unrealistic, mad, and crazy.
4. These are different ways of self-defence and self-justification. The presence of sincerity pricks insincerity. The presence of altruism challenges egoism. The presence of patience and gentleness poses a question to anger and rudeness. The presence of authenticity exposes duplicity.
5. Therefore, the only way is to put down those who are in the right and take away the credit for their virtue. This is what happens in the case of Jesus in the gospel. He was thought to be “out of mind” by his relatives.
6. It was because he was not fitting into their judgment modes. He was so selfless and committed that he would not bother even about his meals. This is really madness according to worldly calculations.
7. Similar is the case of David in the first reading. At the death of Saul, David mourns so much. He would not remember all the evil that Saul caused for him. Instead, he would exalt him. This is the way of the good-hearted and godly people. Sts Sebastian and Fabian too were men of God, in contrast to the world.
Practice: Those who live “out of their heart” will certainly be regarded as “out of their mind”. It is because they are not led by mere senses or brains but by heart and spirit
