Thursday 30th January 2020. Read 2nd Samuel 7:4-17, Psalm 89 and Mark 4:1-20.
“Then
King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O Lord
GOD, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And yet this was
a small thing in thy eyes, O Lord GOD.” (2 Samuel 7:18-19)
One fact
that really struck me in today’s first reading was that David, the King of Israel
listened to the words of the prophet Nathan (taking them as the words of God)
and obeyed. David wanted to build a befitting Temple for God. He had all the
resources to do so. Nathan delivered to him a message from God saying: “You are
not the one to build me a house.” David did not protest, he did not go out stubbornly
to begin the construction work. He simply went down on his knees and prayed to
God.
This is
the main distinguishing factor between David and Saul. While Saul dammed the
instruction of God that came through the prophet Samuel in the battle against the
Amalekites, David obeyed. When God demands obedience, it always feels like God
is asking for too much; it takes great courage to obey an instruction that is different
from my personal wishes and desires. Obedience to God is indeed the litmus test
for devotion to God.
Let us
reflect: “If I was in David’s shoe, would I obey Nathan or would I begin to assume
that God did not spoke to him?” This question could generate other questions
such as: How much value do I place on instructions I receive from God’s
ministers? Do I respect those who represent God for me? Do I respect the Church’s
stand on abortion, invitro-fertilization, euthanasia and so on? Do I sometimes
listen to or read the homily and hiss within me saying: “This priest is just talking
nonsense.”
In today’s
Gospel passage, Jesus says: “Is a lamp put under a bushel or under a bed? For
there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest, nothing secret except to come
to light.” Take this statement of Jesus as your personal motto and your life
would change forever. Keep telling yourself all the time that there is nothing
like secret in this world and you suddenly become a wise person.
Most times,
we fall into great temptations to sin because of the promise and assurance of
secrecy only for us to realize later that our secret affairs have become public
knowledge. We then relapse into guilt saying: “If only I had known!” Now you
know. There is nothing hidden that would not one day come into the light. Take care
of your future by making the right choices today!
When we
plan to do evil, we usually begin by asking how best to cover our tracks but
God who sees everything always has a way of bringing us out. Say: “I am a
light, I cannot be hidden. I am a light, I am meant to shine. I am a light, I cherish
integrity.”
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, create in me a pure heart; let my life reflect your light. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Thursday of the 3rd Week in
Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2nd Samuel 7:18-29, Psalm 132
and Mark 4:21-25).
No comments:
Post a Comment