FIRST READING
“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house?”
A reading from the second Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 7 : 18-19.24-29)
After Nathan had spoken to David, the king 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, and have shown me future generations, O Lord GOD. And you did establish for yourself your people Israel to be your people for ever; and you, O Lord, did become their God. And now, O Lord God, confirm for ever the word which you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken; and your name will be magnified for ever, 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’; there were 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, that it may continue for ever before you; for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed for ever.”
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 132:1 -2.3-5.11.12.13-14 (R. Lk 1:32b)
R/. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
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. R/.
“I will not enter my house,
nor go to the bed where I rest;
I will give no sleep to my eyes,
to my eyelids I will give no slumber,
till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.” R/.
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.” R/.
“If your sons hold fast to my covenant,
and my laws that I have taught them,
their sons, in turn, shall sit
on your throne from age to age.” R/.
For the Lord has chosen Sion;
he has desired it for his dwelling:
“This is my resting-place from age to age;
here have I chosen to dwell.” R/.
Alleluia
Alleluia. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A lamp is brought in to be put on a stand. The measure you give will be the measure you get.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 4:21 -25)
At that time: Jesus said to the crowd, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Today, Jesus focuses on our talents and the measure of our generosity. He has enlightened us in baptism by uniting us with himself and making us children of God. His light must now shine through us on the world around us. We are his light in the world. Refusal to allow that light to shine ever brightly through the positivity of our words and deeds is an abuse of God’s gift. God has blessed us immensely and expects us to apply all of those blessings in numerous ways to give glory to his name by being the answer to people’s prayer. Through us, God wants to bless others. we must allow ourselves to be used generously for that purpose and then our treasury will never run dry. Lord, transform me and use me. Amen