January 29, 2016

The Second book of Samuel   11: 1-4, 5-10, 13-17

11:1 Now it happened that, at the turn of the year, in the time when kings usually go forth to war, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all of Israel, and they laid waste to the sons of Ammon, and they besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
11:2 While these things were taking place, David happened to arise from his bed after midday, and he walked upon the terrace of the king’s house. And he saw, across from his terrace, a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful.
11:3 Therefore, the king sent and inquired who the woman might be. And it was reported to him that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite.
11:4 And so, David sent messengers, and he took her. And when she had entered to him, he slept with her. And presently, she was purified from her uncleanness.
11:5 And she returned to her house, having conceived an unborn child. And sending, she informed David, and she said, “I have conceived.”
11:6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah, the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
11:7 And Uriah went to David. And David inquired whether Joab was doing well, and about the people, and how the war was being conducted.
11:8 And David said to Uriah, “Go into your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah departed from the house of the king. And a meal from the king followed after him.
11:9 But Uriah slept before the gate of the king’s house, with the other servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house.
11:10 And it was reported to David by some, saying, “Uriah did not go into his house.” And David said to Uriah: “Did you not arrive from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11:13 And David called him, so that he might eat and drink before him, and he made him inebriated. And departing in the evening, he slept on his bedding, with the servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house.
11:14 Therefore, when morning arrived, David wrote a letter to Joab. And he sent it by the hand of Uriah,
11:15 writing in the letter: “Place Uriah opposite the warfare, where the battle is the strongest, and then abandon him, so that, having been wounded, he may die.”
11:16 And so, when Joab was besieging the city, he positioned Uriah in the place where he knew the strongest men to be.
11:17 And the men, departing from the city, made war against Joab. And some of the people among the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

The Holy Gospel According to Mark   4: 26-34

4:26 And he said: “The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land.
4:27 And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it.
4:28 For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear.
4:29 And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.”
4:30 And he said: “To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it?
4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth.
4:32 And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.”
4:33 And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear.
4:34 But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples.