💖 HOMILY - JANUARY 29 💖

First Reading - 2 Samuel 7:18-19,24-29

Gospel - Mark 4:21-25

There comes a moment in faith when words run out and gratitude takes over. When we realize how much of our life is gift rather than achievement, the only honest response is humility and trust. Today’s readings draw us into that posture and show us how gratitude opens the way for God’s light to shine more clearly through us.

The First Reading from 2 Samuel finds David in quiet prayer before God. Having heard the astonishing promise that God will establish his house forever, David does not rush to act or plan. He sits in God’s presence and asks a simple question: who am I, Lord God? This is not insecurity. It is wonder. David recognizes that God’s blessing is not earned. It is given freely out of love and faithfulness.

David’s prayer is marked by humility and confidence at the same time. He trusts God’s word enough to ask that the promise be fulfilled, not for his own glory, but so that God’s name may be honored. Gratitude leads to deeper trust. Thankfulness becomes the soil in which hope grows.

The Gospel from Mark offers a short but challenging teaching from Jesus. Light is not meant to be hidden. A lamp is placed where it can give light to all. Jesus then adds a warning and a promise: the measure you give will be the measure you receive, and more besides. What we do with what we have been given matters.

This teaching connects directly to David’s prayer. God’s gifts are not meant to end with us. Gratitude naturally moves outward into witness. When we recognize how much we have received, we are called to let that grace illuminate others. Light grows brighter when it is shared.

Together, these readings reveal a spiritual rhythm. First, receive God’s gift with humility. Then, allow that gift to become light for others. God’s promises are generous, but they are never meant to be hoarded. The more we trust and share, the more our capacity to receive grows.

This speaks clearly into everyday life. Many people underestimate the impact of their faith, their kindness, or their witness. Others, having received much, hesitate to step forward in confidence. Today’s word reminds us that God’s grace increases when it is lived openly and generously.

The invitation today is simple and profound. Sit with gratitude before God, as David did. Acknowledge what you have received, not with pride, but with wonder. Then allow that gratitude to shape how you live, speak, and serve. Do not hide the light God has placed within you.

When gratitude leads, humility deepens. When light is shared, it multiplies. And when we trust God’s promises enough to live them out, our lives become steady lamps, quietly illuminating the path for others and honoring the God who gives far more than we could ever ask or imagine.