Homily: Thursday of the 1st Week of OT 2016 - Humility's victory

The readings this morning both continue from the first book of Samuel and the Gospel of Mark which we’ve been hearing all week.

From the book of Samuel, we peer back into the history of Israel, hearing how Israel had come under the oppression of the Philistines. We read how Israel had sought to throw off their oppressors, and entered into battle with Philistines, but Israel was defeated. Only afterwards do they realize that they should have sought the Lord’s help in this matter. And instead of sincere repentance and prayer, Israel took-up the ark of the covenant into battle—treating the holy relic like some sort of magic weapon.  Though the Philistines were initially intimidated by Israel’s mighty religious artifact, a second battle resulted in an even more disastrous defeat for Israel—not only were seven times more Israelites killed than last time, the Philistines stole the ark.

In contrast, in the Gospel, we heard of a man afflicted with leprosy.  Life, in a sense had defeated him.  Few afflictions in biblical times were more hideous and terrifying than leprosy.  To be diagnosed with leprosy was a virtual death sentence. Yet, the leper, shows more faith than all of the Israelites in the first story, he kneels before the Lord, begs for healing, begs for victory, begs for God’s will to be done. In his request there is an echo of the Lord’s prayer: “if it is thy will, make me clean.”

See the difference? Israel said, “my will be done”. The leper said, “thy will be done.”  Israel sought to control God.  The leper made himself humble before God. In a sense, the leper’s humility was more valuable than the physical healing he sought.  The homage and submission he showed to Christ was a sign that the leprosy had not disfigured his heart.

Often like Israel in today’s reading, we want power and victory without love and humility. But, when we are faced with defeat, or the torrential storms of life—loss of a loved one, loss of employment, loss of peace in our country and virtuous leaders, we must come before God like the leper, in homage and humble submission, confessing, “thy will be done.”

For God often allows the humiliation, he allows the defeat, the affliction, in order to bring about something greater, the purification of faith, hope, and love. It’s a lesson most of us don’t think we need; but when we kneel low before him, we will be touched by Christ’s healing hand, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.