💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 5 💖

First Reading - 1 Kings 2:1-4,10-12

Gospel - Mark 6:7-13

There comes a moment in every life when responsibility is handed on, when what we have received must now be lived out by others. In those moments, what matters most is not wealth, power, or success, but faithfulness. Today’s readings invite us to reflect on legacy, mission, and the quiet strength that comes from trusting God rather than relying on our own resources.

In the First Reading, David is nearing the end of his life. He speaks to Solomon not as a conquering king, but as a father passing on what truly matters. His instruction is simple and profound: be strong, walk in the ways of the Lord, and keep God’s commands. David’s reign, with all its triumphs and failures, now narrows to this essential truth. Faithfulness is the foundation of lasting leadership. Solomon’s future will not depend on clever strategy alone, but on obedience and trust in God.

David’s death marks the end of one chapter, but the kingdom continues because it is rooted in God’s promise, not merely in David’s ability. What endures is not personality, but faith handed on.

The Gospel shows Jesus doing something similar in a very different way. He sends the twelve out on mission. They are not given elaborate plans or material security. They are sent with little more than authority, trust, and dependence on God. Their vulnerability is intentional. It teaches them that the mission is not powered by possessions, but by God’s grace at work through them.

Jesus also prepares them for rejection. Not everyone will listen. Not every door will open. Faithfulness, not success, is the measure of their mission. They are to go, to proclaim, to heal, and then to move on when they are not received.

Dear friends, God’s work continues through people who trust, not control; who obey, not accumulate; who pass on faith, not fear. David entrusts the future to God’s law. Jesus entrusts the mission to ordinary people willing to go with open hands.

Many people worry about what they will leave behind: achievements, security, recognition. Today’s word reframes that concern. The most lasting legacy is faith lived and shared. The most effective mission is carried out by those who trust God more than their own preparation.

The invitation today is to examine what you are relying on. Are you clinging to security instead of trusting God? Are you focused on results instead of faithfulness? Are you passing on fear or faith to those who follow you?

When we walk in God’s ways, our lives become testimony. When we travel light, we discover how much God provides. And when we step forward in trust, even imperfectly, God’s kingdom moves quietly through us, healing, restoring, and drawing others into the life we ourselves have received.