A Reading from 1 Sm 16:1-13
The LORD said to Samuel:
“How long will you grieve for Saul,
whom I have rejected as king of Israel?
Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
But Samuel replied:
“How can I go?
Saul will hear of it and kill me.”
To this the LORD answered:
“Take a heifer along and say,
‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do;
you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”
Samuel did as the LORD had commanded him.
When he entered Bethlehem,
the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired,
“Is your visit peaceful, O seer?”
He replied:
“Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.
So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.”
He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves
and invited them to the sacrifice.
As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because he sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel,
who said, “The LORD has not chosen him.”
Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said,
“The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There–anoint him, for this is he!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed him in the midst of his brothers;
and from that day on, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.
When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah.
REFLECTION
“How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel?
Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
Saul had stopped following God in his heart and in deeds and he fell from His favor, so God decided to give the people of Israel a new king.
We might think we are good, and that we have achieved salvation by going to Mass, praying a little, giving back a little. But deep inside, are we really following God? Or are we merely doing good things to look good before others?
If we truly are making an effort to follow God, are we truly following through thick and thin? Do I give up easily? Am I only good with those who are good to me, and despise those who don't like me?
Having congruency in our beliefs is very difficult nowadays. Persevering through obstacles might seem impossible.
And that is where many of us, in this culture fail. We think "I can do it alone", "I can do it myself". But we can't. We cannot fight the spiritual battle alone.
We must put our trust in God. And ask Him for His help. We should also ask for other's intercessions: pray to our favorite saints, ask our friends and relatives for intercessory prayers for us.
As PAPA we are a family. And we pray for each other. Let us pray for the gift of perseverance so all of us, like St. Paul can say:
"I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 4:7)
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