January 15, 2010
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
By Melanie Rigney
The people … 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." When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD, who then said to him, "Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them." (1 Samuel 8:19-22)
Happy the people who know you, Lord, who walk in the radiance of your face. In your name they sing joyfully all the day; at your victory they raise the festal shout. (Psalms 89:16-17)
“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?” (Mark 2:9)
Piety
Lord, sometimes we make life harder than it has to be. Help us to believe in the majesty that You are, which makes the rest so much easier.
Study
My best friend, Patricia Lorenz, who writes for Guideposts’ daily devotionals and has a number of books to her credit, is fond of saying she takes the easy way through life. She lives near Tampa, Florida, which means she has a year-round wardrobe. She swims, bikes, writes, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and doesn’t stress out too much about anything.
I, on the other hand, tend to take the hard way. I overschedule and overcommit to the point of crankiness, and think way too much about almost everything (who else could link a decision to order a Reuben sandwich with accepting her cross in life?).
For folks like Pat, belief comes easy too. Their answer to the question in today’s Gospel reading would be something along the lines of, “They’re both easy! Of course the paralytic’s sins were forgiven, and of course Christ was able to cure the man’s physical problems.”
But ah, for folks like me, miracles we can see are so much easier to accept. We give birth. We beat cancer. We learn to run marathons. We finally come up with a savings plan or an eating lifestyle that works. It’s harder to believe that the God who knows what’s inside, not just what we let the world see, means it when He says: “I sent My Son to redeem you. Your sins are forgiven. Walk in the radiance of My face.”
We’re like the Israelites of Samuel’s time. Judges wouldn’t do; they wanted a king, just like all the other nations. Samuel was perturbed, because the Israelites didn’t really need a king; they had God. Even when Samuel on God’s behalf told them the disadvantages of having a king other than Him, they wouldn’t listen. They refused, in essence, to take the easy way out.
It’s a little late for New Year’s resolutions, but I’m adding one to my list. In 2010, I’m going to spend less time analyzing what God is doing in my life and more time celebrating it and saying thank you. And I hope, that by the example Pat and others set, that will become easier and easier. Is there someone whose relationship with God you might consider emulating in this way? It’s never too late to start taking it easy.
Action
The upcoming retreat for Arlington Diocese Cursillistas is a great place to take it easy. The retreat, which begins at Missionhurst at 7:30 p.m. on January 22 and runs through 1:30 p.m. on January 24, is an opportunity to rest in God’s presence and experience the support and love of community. Check out www.arlingtoncursillo.org to download an application.
