2nd Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - "Not as man sees does God see"

“Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart." In both of our readings today, God shows how he works in ways that are mysterious and surprising to us mortals.

In the first reading, Jesse of Bethlehem presents seven fine, strapping, capable sons for Samuel to anoint as the next king of Israel. The first son, Eliab, had “king” written all over his face—he was lofty and handsome. But the Lord, rejected him, and rejected each one of fine young men Jesse presented. Rather, God chose the most unlikely candidate: the eighth son, the child too young to take upon him the major responsibility of running a kingdom with this crazy, anti-king, Saul opposing him.

It’s challenging and comforting at the same time, isn’t it, that God isn’t preoccupied with outer images, with social conventions. How different our world would be if, like God, we valued inner character over outer appearance; the moral corruption of Hollywood elites would certainly have less effect in our culture.

Over and over in the Gospels, Jesus shows himself to be quite a different Messiah than people were expecting. When they looked at Jesus, they saw, “Joseph, the carpenter’s kid”, not the incarnate son of God. The Pharisees saw an upstart, a heretic, a fool; the Romans saw a nuisance.

Jesus, walking through the grain fields with his disciples, picking off the heads of grain to eat, appears to be violating the Sabbath law, but through his grasp of the truth of the Scriptures and the will of His Father, Jesus reveals himself to be Lord of the Sabbath. He reveals, too, that God is working in ways that man does not initially expect.

In Jesus, God’s power and might, are revealed, not in military victory, but in humble self-sacrifice and unrelenting mercy. Victory over death is accomplished through the embrace of the cross. What appears to the world as defeat, to God, is victory.

In a society where it seems everyone is out for themselves, Christians need to trust in the ways of God: preaching the truth unabashedly, reaching out to the needy unreservedly, practicing forgiveness unconditionally. We are to adorn ourselves and our lives not with the riches of the world, but knowing God looks to the heart, we are to adorn ourselves with the wisdom of God and with virtue, especially faith, hope, and charity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. this Friday will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord