_“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 a battle against the Philistines who were obviously
gaining the upper arm. In just one day, the Philistines slew four thousand men.
Out of desperation, the Israeli army “ordered” for the Ark of God. Without any
prior acts of begging, they commanded God into battleground. They forgot that
prayer is not magic.
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…” Even the women who served at the entrance of the tent (the
altar girls) were not spared of their gross immorality (1 Samuel 2:22)
Eli did
his best to caution Hopni and Phineas but they ignored him. They did not listen
to the voice of their father, yet when it was time to carry the Ark to battleground,
they did not think twice.
Prayer is
the opposite of Magic. While prayer requites the will of God to work, magic
entirely depends on the magician. Magic is all about performance, it is a show,
it is for the glory of the magician. Prayer, on the other hand, requires
prostrating ourselves before God, it involves bending the knee, bowing and
begging God and it is always to the glory of 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.” The leper displayed faith and
humility before Jesus. He prayed for healing but was careful to add “If you
will” knowing that his healing depends entirely on God. The leper did not
display a sense of entitlement, he did not shout or command God.
In
teaching us to pray, Jesus deliberately added the phrase “your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven” to teach us that prayer is not magic. After curing
the leper, Jesus told him to “say nothing to people” because Jesus did not want
attention on himself. Even when the leper disobeyed this instruction, Jesus
went into hiding. “He could no longer openly enter a town but was out in the
country.”
Jesus
wanted all the glory to go to God and not himself. Today, it is rather
disheartening to see our ministers act like magicians boasting and doing
everything to make themselves popular. Prayer is not magic, learn to give God
the glory He deserves. Let it not be that you only remember God when you need
something from Him. Worship God in season and out of season, do not make the
mistake of Hophni and Phineas.
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, Psalm 44 and Mark 1:40-45).
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