Blessed Virgin Mary 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a man

From the tribe of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a valiant Benjaminite. Kish had a son named Saul, a handsome young man who had no equal among the Israelites, for he was a head taller than any of them.

It happened that the asses of Kish were lost. So he said to his son Saul, “take one of the boys with you and go look for the asses.” They went all over the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah but did not find them.

They passed through the land of Shaalim and the land of Benjamin, but the asses were nowhere to be found. So ,when Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, “Here is the man I spoke to you about! He shall rule over my people.”

Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and said, “Tell me, where is the house of the seer?” Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me. In the morning, before you leave, I will tell you all that is in your heart.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head. And kidding Saul, Samuel said, “Yahweh has anointed you to rule over and to lead his people Israel. And this will be Yahweh’s sign to you that he has anoibted you.

 

Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Lord in you strength the king is glad.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Mark 2:13-17

 When Jesus went out again beside the lake, a crowd came to him and he taught them.   As he walked along, he saw a tax collector sitting in his office. This was Levi, the son of Al­­pheus. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And Levi got up and followed him.

 And it so happened that while Jesus was eating in Levi’s house, tax collectors and sinners were sitting with him and his dis­ciples for there were indeed many of them. But there were also teachers of the Law of the Pha­­ri­sees’ party,   among those who followed Jesus, and when they saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why! He eats with tax collectors and sinners!”

 Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

Jogging Behind Jesus

One of the best exercises for a healthy body is daily walk. American Heart Association recommends doing 10,000 steps a day. Being seated or stationary for long hours is unhealthy.

The same applies for spiritual health as well. There is much movement in today’s gospel. Jesus “went out,” the crowds “came in,”Jesus “was walking.” But in the midst of all, Levi was “seated.”

Jesus wants him on his feet. “Follow me,” he tells him. Levi gets up and follows him, and becomes a different man! You cannot follow someone while seated.

Following means giving up one’s fixed stances, attitudes, beliefs, and practices and being on the feet risking a journe into new and unchartered territories, walking behind the one who natters most. Do at least 10,000 steps a day behind Jesus and your spiritual health will be fine.

 

Many times, Jesus asked people to follow him.

『take up your cross and follow me』.

But also he promised he will be there so you are not alone in the dark.