Tuesday, 21st January – Tuesday of week 2 of the year

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

Reflection: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13

GOD DOES NOT SEE AS MAN SEES

For us to have a flourishing Christian life, our hearts must daily resound with the above truth. The lessons taught to Samuel in the choice of a new king for Israel from among the sons of Jesse remain vital in our modern age as Christians.

As youths, we are in a crucial phase of life; it is both a formative and developmental phase for us. Alongside these, life will oblige us to make some critical choices. Some of the decisions are so fundamental that they can erode the gains of our formative and developmental years if wrongly made. One of these choices is that of a life partner, for as many as are called to the vocation of marriage. As Samuel was deceived in his mind by Eliab’s appearance, so are we also susceptible to error when we priamarily make factors like appearance, money, educational qualifications, family status and tribe the sole determining factors in the choice of a life partner.

“Man looks at the appearances but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Samuel 16:7). If man has not perfectly known himself, how much can he then claim to know his neighbor? (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 14:12; 1 Corinthians 13:9). Much as we should have desirable attributes for our future spouses, we must humbly submit them to God in prayer (Psalm 37:5) counting on His promise that: “No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

As we seek and pray for the right partner, let us also prepare ourselves and pray towards being the right partner too.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for your wonderful plans for me. Please help me to cooperate with you for their fulfillment. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 507 – What happens if you find that prayer does not help?

Prayer does not seek superficial success but rather the will of God and intimacy with him. God’s apparent silence is itself an invitation to take a step farther—in total devotion, boundless faith, and endless expectation. Anyone who prays must allow God the complete freedom to speak whenever he wants, to grant whatever he wants, and to give himself however he wants.

HIDE A TREASURE: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than you ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55: 8-9 RSV-CE

Readings for today: 1Samuel 16: 1-13; Psalm 89: 20-28; Mark 2: 23-28