Category: Prayers

“Should you build Me a house to dwell in?” –2 Samuel 7:5 Mass Readings: January 24 First: 2 Samuel 7:4-17; Resp: Psalm 89:4-5,27-30; Gospel: Mark 4:1-20 Listen to the Mass Readings David had the desire to do something great for God. Surely David’s motivation was well-intentioned. Yet God never asked for a house or temple (2 Sm 7:7). Thank God for church buildings, for homes in which Jesus is enthroned as Lord, for business buildings dedicated to the glory of God. Almighty God, however, cannot be contained. When Solomon, David’s son, completed the building of the Temple, Solomon himself recognized...

“David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities.” –2 Samuel 6:12 Mass Readings: January 23 First: 2 Samuel 6:12-15,17-19; Resp: Psalm 24:7-10; Gospel: Mark 3:31-35 Listen to the Mass Readings When David brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, he gave the distinct impression that God was really present at the ark. After every six steps of the procession with the ark, David “sacrificed an ox and a fatling” (2 Sm 6:13). Then David, the king of the nation, put on his dancing clothes and “came dancing...

“Here we are, your bone and your flesh.” –2 Samuel 5:1 Mass Readings: January 22 First: 2 Samuel 5:1-7,10; Resp: Psalm 89:20-22,25-26; Gospel: Mark 3:22-30 Listen to the Mass Readings David became king of the tribes of Israel because they were his flesh and blood. They considered it desirable to have their own kin as their ruler, for “blood is thicker than water.” However, in the new covenant, the waters of baptism are thicker than the blood of natural relationship. In other words, the blood of Jesus is thicker than the blood of human kinship. That’s why Jesus left His...

“David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan.” –2 Samuel 1:11-12 Mass Readings: January 20 First: 2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,19,23-27; Resp: Psalm 80:2-3,5-7; Gospel: Mark 3:20-21 Listen to the Mass Readings David had experienced a very eventful week. Ziklag, the city in which David resided, had been “burned to the ground” by the Amalekites (1 Sm 30:3). The wives, sons, and daughters of David and his followers had been taken captive (1 Sm 30:3). “David found himself in...

“I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” –1 Samuel 24:11 Mass Readings: January 19 First: 1 Samuel 24:3-21; Resp: Psalm 57:2-4,6,11; Gospel: Mark 3:13-19 Listen to the Mass Readings Saul was hunting David down to kill him (1 Sm 24:12). Despite this, David refused to kill Saul when Saul was defenseless before him (1 Sm 24:8). Although David had no reservations about killing his enemies, even when defenseless, he did not kill Saul because Saul was “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sm 24:7, 11). David even “regretted that he had cut off an...