January 19, 2010
Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
By Beth DeCristofaro
But the LORD said to Samuel… Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28)
Piety
God of history, we thank you for all who have shared their story of faith with us and so have given witness to your presence in their lives. We praise you for the variety of our stories both as individuals and churches. In these stories we see the unfolding of the one story of Jesus Christ. We pray for the courage and the conviction to share our faith with those with whom we come into contact, and so allow the message of your Word to spread to all. Amen. (http://www.geii.org/wpcu_daily_scripture_and_prayer_guide.htm )
Study
Ungainly and provincial Susan Boyle. Scrawny Mohandas Ghandi. Cheerful, peasant Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. Sheepherder David. Notorious Samarian widow at the well. Haitians who, in their sorrow and hurt, sing in the ruined streets of Port O Prince and share what little they have with their neighbors. The Lord looks into the hearts of his people and finds that despite their social and cultural appearances, in their innermost being they “shine like the sun” (Thomas Merton).
Samuel was instructed to look beyond and rely on God for true sight. Jesus challenged the Pharisees to see beyond the rules and regulations which they had designed. To set aside time and place for worship is, of course a good purpose – one which we should all strive to do in order to meet God more fully and deliberately. But God is present above, surrounding and permeating humans and the world no matter the rules and regulations. Seek God not human order or right placement. Look at the stories of those whom God loves rather than stop at evaluating the right or wrongness of their activities.
“You are witnesses of these things” is January 18-22, 2010’s theme during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Scripture offers awesome witness through the words of the evangelists who recorded stories of Jesus and those whose lives he entered. And throughout human history we can find stories of people who society shuns but they find a way to shine by using their God-given gifts. Can their stories bring us closer to a loving, gracious God? Can you hear and see such stories in the people in your life today?
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a link to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity web site which has a wealth of information, and resources such as today’s prayer. http://www.usccb.org/seia/executive.shtml
Action
Who has been an influence in your life from an unexpected direction? Are you able and willing to witness to the influence they had? Can you witness to the movement of God in your life at their hands? What influence might you offer to another?
