Sunday 26th January 2020. Read 2nd Samuel 5:1-10, Psalm 89 and Mark 3:22-30)_
_“So all
the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant
with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.”
*(2 Samuel 5:3)*_
Finally,
David becomes King of Israel. David’s rise to the throne is a story of determination,
hard work and righteousness. Yes, as a little boy, David was anointed by Samuel
but it wasn’t until he was thirty that he became substantive King of Isreal.
David did not go to sleep hoping that with the anointing he received,
everything would just magically fall into place.
Anointing
without sweat only amounts to failure. As the saying goes: “Pray as if
everything depends on God but Work as if everything depends on you.” God
blesses the labour of our hands, He does not provide food straight from the
sky. Like a horse led to the river, God does not force us to drink. There is
nothing wrong with spending long hours in prayer but something is wrong if we
do nothing afterwards.
Another
lesson we get from David’s ascension to the throne is PATIENCE. Honestly, this
is one virtue that is lacking in today’s Christians. We live a world of fast
food, fast internet, fast transport and fast everything. We want everything to happen
immediately. We believe that if things are not happening according to our own
set pace, then our enemies are responsible, that God is asleep or that our prayers
are not working.
God works
in mysterious ways. Sometimes God grants our prayers immediately, sometimes,
God takes us through a process to teach us some lessons while working out the
answers to our prayers. Whatever be the case, we must continue to trust God and
walk as children of the light. Keep doing what is right, who knows, your
current situation might just be a test.
Before you
begin to feel that your enemies are in control of your life, why not take out
time to count your blessings and acknowledge what God is doing? Why do we fear
demons more than we fear God? In today’s Gospel passage, the scribes falsely
accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. These scribes, despite
being religious leaders believed more in the power of demons than in the power
of God. What a shame!
It can be
very painful when you are doing something good only hear people speaking calumny
against you for your good deed. Jesus experienced this pain. He asked them a question:
“Can Satan cast out Satan?” If satan begins to fight himself, then he is
finished. Satan may be strong but the truth is that God is stronger. Stop ascribing
everything to the power of Satan, remember that God is still in charge of your
life.
Finally,
as one great Saint said: “if you have nothing good to say about someone, then
please keep quiet.” Why do we derive pleasure in running others down while presenting
ourselves as perfect, complete, holy and wonderful? Bear in mind that people
carry stories about others out of sheer jealousy. Do not be a rumour-monger.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, I trust in you, I know that you are the Almighty Power, free me
from the fear of the devil. Amen.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Monday of the 3rd Week in
Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2nd Samuel 5:1-10, Psalm 89 and Mark 3:22-30).*
Fr. Abu.
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