Friday, Week 1 in Ordinary Time
First Reading
1 Samuel 8:4–7, 10–22
Israel’s elders come to Samuel and say, “We want a king to judge us like other nations.” Samuel is displeased, and God explains: they are not rejecting Samuel, they are rejecting God as their king. God warns that a human king will take their sons for war, their daughters for service, a tenth of their produce, and their freedom. Yet the people refuse to listen and insist on having a king.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 89:16–19
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The psalm acknowledges God’s steadfast goodness, strength, and protection — a contrast to the fragile security sought in human leadership.
Gospel
Mark 2:1–12
Jesus returns to Capernaum and a crowd gathers so tightly that four men carrying a paralytic cannot reach him. Determined, they break through the roof and lower the man before Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus first says, “Your sins are forgiven,” and then, to prove his authority, commands the man to stand, take his mat, and go home — and he does so immediately.
Reflection
Today’s readings place before us a choice between power that dominates and authority that heals.
The elders of Israel seek a human king so they can be “like other nations.” Their request reflects a deep human desire for visible symbols of security and power. Yet God’s response shows that human structures can become chains rather than freedom. When power is sought apart from God, it ends up taking from those it was meant to protect.
In contrast, the paralytic and his companions do not seek status or control. They persist in faith, overcoming barriers with creativity and love. Jesus’ response is profound: he first forgives the man’s sins — addressing the deeper brokenness of the human heart — and then restores his body. Jesus’ authority is not about domination; it is about restoration and reconciliation.
This Gospel invites us to consider where we look for authority and security. Do we trust in human systems and comparisons? Or do we turn to Christ, whose authority brings healing and wholeness? God’s mercy does not bypass reality; it meets our needs and restores life where it was broken.
A moment of pause
Where in your life are you tempted to rely on human power, and where might you instead choose Christ’s restoring mercy?
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