Greetings on this the Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1; PS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Mk 2:13-17
Notes
This is painful but hang in there. Yesterday, we learned the people had rejected the Lord (and Samuel) and desired a King. The Lord gave them a King. Saul. The people wanted a strong king. Strong in battle and a unifying force among the tribes. And, yes, Saul was all those things. However, in order to highlight the shallowness of the criteria the people held for the new King Saul is described: a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.
So that rounds out the criteria. From yesterday: The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “Not so! There must be a king over us. We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles.” From today: A handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.
Summary
How are we to judge things? Not picking on Saul but the criteria for a leader: warrior, war unifier, and handsome may not be the best of criteria. In our gospel portion today we see the Lord at table with many tax collectors and sinners. They don’t meet the Kingly criteria at all. But they meet God’s criteria. Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Reflection
How we think is far from how the Lord thinks. His patience is for the salvation of souls. His mercy, the same. All the actions of the Lord are for the reunification of the people with the Lord and one another. And, as handsome as Saul was, Jesus was not. He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye, no beauty to draw us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, knowing pain, Like one from whom you turn your face, spurned, and we held him in no esteem (ISA 53:2-3).
Personal Reflection
Days before my father passed away he called me and left a voicemail. He said, ‘Gerard, I will always love you. You will always be with me and you are where my heart is.”
Where is our heart, after all? Do we want the Unity of Perpetual War? Do we want superficiality of appearance? Jesus wants us just as we are to heal us and love us. Because, [insert your name], I will always love you. You will always be with me and you are where my heart is.”
First Reading
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.
Responsorial
Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Gospel Acclamation
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.
Gospel
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Yesterday’s hope that was planted with trees for the future, so too, your own Father planted God’s Love and Hope in you. Giddy up & God Bless!
Thank you, Barry, for your kind reflection. My Dad’s favorite saying: Justice delayed, justice denied. A seed.