“Anoint Him” by Melanie Rigney (@melanierigney)

“Anoint Him” by Melanie Rigney

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Reworked by Marsyas [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here." Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, "There–anoint him, for this is he!" (1 Samuel 16:11-12)

I have found David, my servant. (Psalm 89:21)

(Jesus said to the Pharisees:) "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?" (Mark 2:25-26)

Piety

Lord, help me to place my trust in You and Your plans for me.

Study

He was only a shepherd boy; a good-looking one, to be sure, but a shepherd boy with little else to recommend him. He was the youngest of eight brothers, and couldn’t have reasonably expected his lot in life to change much in the coming decades.

Except it did.

The Lord, displeased with King Saul’s disobedience, advised the prophet Samuel that He had selected Saul’s successor from among Jesse’s sons. And it was the last and perhaps least of Jesse’s sons, who didn’t even come to the big event because he was working, who would be the anointed one.

David would go on to be the second king of Israel and win great battles. He also would sin in significant ways—the shepherd boy never did anything by halves—and his sincere, complete penance would always regain his favor in the Lord’s eyes.

And what of us? We’re “only” mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, bosses, worker bees, nuns, priests, bishops, seminarians, whatever other labels you like to use. But just as David became with the Lord’s anointment more than he was, so do we. And that anointment requires us never to do anything in His name by halves.

Action

Which of the Lord’s gifts are you wasting? Talk with a priest, spiritual adviser, or trusted friend about how that waste might be reduced or end.