30 January – 4 February 2012
Notes on the weekday readings
Monday 30 January 2012
2 Samuel 15:13-14,30,16:5-13
How would you feel if your own child turned against you? David comes across as very human in the suffering caused him by the rebellion of Absalom. In this depressed mood, he accepts very cutting criticism from a prophet called Shimei. David is an example of a person capable of greatness, both great fault and great faith.
Tuesday 31 January 2012 (St John Bosco)
2 Samuel 18:9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3
Our tragic story this morning is one that some parents have had to go through: the death of a child. Even though Absalom was a rebel, he was still David’s son. The reaction of his father is altogether very moving and rings true: he wishes he could have died instead of his child.
Wednesday 1 February 2012 (St Brigid)
Romans 12:3-13 (The sequence of readings is broken today for the feast of St Brigid)
Like all communities, the Christians in Rome at the time of Paul were a mixed group, not always comfortable with difference and diversity. Paul counsels them gently and his advice is as good today as it was then.
Thursday 2 February 2012 (The Presentation of the Lord)
Malachi 3:1-4 (The sequence is broken again today for the Presentation)
We tend to hear this reading in the light of John the Baptist, but we should first hear it on its own merits. At the time of writing, the prophet Malachi severely criticized the priesthood and its worship “system”. (There is no need to read the passage below in italics because parts of it are quite offensive, but it does give the setting.) The issues are lack of genuine faith and the failure to live justly, issues which have not gone away. The purification needed is not the tidying up of the liturgy but a change of heart in the worshippers.
And now, O priests, this command is for you.If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. (Mal 2:1–3)
Friday 3 February 2012(St Blaise)
Ecclesiasticus 47:2-13
Before we bid farewell to the story of David, the reading from Ecclesiasticus(Sirach) gives us a much later evaluation of the career of David. The attentive reader will notice that the dark side of David is airbrushed out.This is how David was seen at the time of Jesus. David is mentioned no fewer than 59 times in the New Testament and this reading helps us realise why he was such an important figure for people then.
Saturday 4 February 2012
1 Kings 3:4-13
The story of Solomon starts today with one of the best remembers tales about this king. At the start of his reign he got the opportunity to ask God for anything he wished. We might all have a different wish list: Solomon’s is certainly interesting.