Homily for January 11, 2018.
“So the
people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the
LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni
and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.” 1 Samuel 4:4.
Today’s
readings juxtapose two examples of God’s intervention in human life. One in
which God allowed the enemy to prevail over his children and the other in which
God showed his power and might over nature by bringing healing to a leper.
The
Israelite nation was in battle against the Philistines who were obviously
gaining the upper arm, in one day alone, four thousand men were slain by the
Philistines. Out of desperation, the Israelites ordered for the Ark of God to
be brought into battle ground. Without any prior acts of begging, they COMMANDED
God into battle ground.
Mind you, the
two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas who were directly responsible for the care
of the ark did not show any respect at all for God. As we read in 1 Samuel 2:12
onwards: “The sons of Eli were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD or
for the duties of the priests to the people…. Thus the sin of the young men was
very great in the sight of the LORD; for they treated the offerings of the LORD
with contempt….”
In verse
22, we read: “Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to
all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the
tent of meeting. He said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear
of your evil dealings from all these people…. But they would not listen to the
voice of their father…”
They did not
listen to the voice of their father, yet when it was time to carry the Ark to
battle ground, they did not think twice. When we treat God with contempt, when
we behave as though he does not exist, isn’t it a contraction that we go back
again to God and command him to act on our behalf? What even gives us ground
for shouting at God when we pray?
My point
of emphasis here is that it is the WILL of God that determines whether our
prayers are answered or not. We are not in charge. No matter how holy we may
be, we have NO RIGHTS whatsoever to give God commands at prayer. Even if we
happen to raise our voice during prayer, let us remember that we are SIMPLY
BEGGING.
Prayer
demands a great deal of humility both in terms of physical prostration and
humility of heart; the ability to acknowledge our emptiness and nothingness before
God. As we see in today’s Gospel passage, a leper approached Jesus beseeching
him and KNEELING said, “If you will, you can make me clean.” We are told that Jesus
was even moved with pity for this man; indeed, we know the rest of the story.
Dear
friends, despite God’s unalloyed love for us, there are times he allows us to
suffer defeat, there are times he refuses to answer our prayers, it doesn’t mean
he is weak, it simply means that that was his will, his own choice for us at
that particular instance. Jesus taught us to pray in the Our Father, “your will
be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Prayer is
not a matter of command, let us have the attitude of the leper when we approach
God for our needs and learn from Hophni and Phineas to give God his due in our
manner of life.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me that there is something called humility. May I be
poor in spirit. Amen
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Thursday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time. Bible
Study: 1 Samuel 4;1-11 and Mark 1:40-45).
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