Breaking the Word

3^rd Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 24^th January 2024 —  2 Sam 7,4-17; Mark 4,1-20

Covenant of Reminder and Promises

The first reading is the account of David’s wanting to build a temple for God and God’s response to his plans. The Lord is never outdone in generosity. When David manifests to Nathan his intention to do something for the Ark of the Lord, Nathan encourages him to do what is in his heart. But the Word of God comes to Nathan that night and says that David will not be the one to build him a house. At the same time, God is pleased with the intention of David’s heart and in response makes a covenant with David. Before making the covenant oath, the Lord first recalls what he has done for David and the people. He brought them out of Egypt, gave them judges to govern them, and called David to be the ruler over his people. He reminds David that he protected him, destroyed his enemies, and made David’s name great. The Lord recalls how he has given David and the people of Israel rest from their enemies. The Lord promises to make a house for David, a royal dynasty.

3^rd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 23^rd January 2024 – 2 Sam 6,12-15.17-19; Mark 3,31-35

Becoming Priest-King

In the first reading, David rejoices as the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the city of Jerusalem. The Ark is the resting place of God among the people of Israel. It had been captured by the Philistines in a battle. One of the first things that David did after he captured the city of Jerusalem and made it his capital was to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the city. David acted as a royal priest and presided over a kingdom ordered to the liturgical worship and praise of God. The first attempt to bring the Ark from Baalah to Jerusalem did not go well (2 Sam 6,1-10). The people tried to transport it on a cart which was not in accord with the Law of Moses (Deut 10,8). The Ark remained in the house of Obed-Edom for three months. In his second attempt, David wins over Jerusalem and moves the Ark to Jerusalem, which is a religious and political centre. As the Ark was brought to Jerusalem, David fully assumed the role of a priest-king. He dressed like a priest in a linen ephod, sacrificed animals, and danced before the Ark of the Lord.

3^rd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 29^th January 2019 — Gospel: Mark 3,31-35