COLLECT: “ATTEND TO THE PLEAS OF YOUR PEOPLE WITH HEAVENLY CARE, O LORD, WE PRAY, THAT THEY MAY SEE WHAT MUST BE DONE AND GAIN STRENGTH TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
1Sam 8:4-7,10-21a; Ps 88:16-19 and Mk 2:1-12.
The word of God is always alive in every generation; our generation is not an exception. What warranted the people of Israel to ask for a human king still happens in our time. Samuel was old, and his sons took over both the civil and spiritual affairs, but they did not follow their father’s good example of leadership. Also, generations experienced and our generation continues to experience the warnings that Samuel gave to the Israelites about a human king who would rule over them (Cf. 1Sam 8:10-18).
The Israelites refused to listen to Samuel and the warnings he gave them because they wanted to be like their neighbours who had human kings to rule over them. They actually did not know what they were asking for even though Samuel gave them the implications. Even God made it clear to them through Samuel that by their request, they were not rejecting Samuel but rejecting him, God.
One mistake a lot of us sometimes make is when we allow other people’s values and actions to dictate our attitudes and behaviour. We can often easily make wrong choices and decisions because we may want to be like everyone else. God has his plans for everyone and we are not the same but differently gifted. Therefore, be careful that the values of your friends or ‘heroes’ do not pull or drag you away from what God says is right or from the plans God has for you.
The Israelites were attracted to the world and its standards. This weakened their obedience to and faith in God who has been with them right from the Exodus till now, leading and ruling them. This can easily happen to us. Our obedience to, faith and trust in God will weaken or even disappear if we allow the world and its standards to attract us so much. Remember, Satan is ruling this world and it will always present a beautiful world and its standards to us. Take note.
Regarding our faith and calling as Christians, at our baptism, we renounced Satan and sin, as well as all the glamour of Satan. We then accepted God to rule and reign in our lives. However, there are times and moments we behave like the Israelites. There are times when, because we are attracted to this world and its standards, we so to speak, make a request before God that we do not want Him to be our King anymore and to rule over us. Because of our attachment to the world, we seem to allow Satan, the prince of this world to rule over us. When we allow temptation and sin to control our lives then Satan is ruling and reigning in our lives. Let us pray that God may be our king and ruler of our lives and actions. Blessed day.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HUMBLY WE ASK YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD, BE GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO GRANT THAT THOSE YOU RENEW WITH YOUR SACRAMENTS MAY ALSO SERVE WITH LIVES PLEASING TO YOU. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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