January 17, 2026

1There was a powerful man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. 2He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other Israelite more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people. 3The Lost Donkeys. Now the donkeys of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the donkeys.” 4So they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals. 17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him: This is the man I told you about; he shall govern my people. 18Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” 19Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before letting you go, I will tell you everything on your mind. 1You are the one who will govern the LORD’s people and save them from the power of their enemies all around them. The Signs Foretold. “This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you ruler over his heritage:

2I - LORD, the king finds joy in your power; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! 3You have granted him his heart’s desire; you did not refuse the request of his lips. Selah 4For you welcomed him with goodly blessings; you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 5He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever. 6Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you confer upon him. 7You make him the pattern of blessings forever, you gladden him with the joy of your face.

18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,

13The Call of Levi. Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. 14As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 15While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” The Question About Fasting.