Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Serving God faithfully is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple and it demands a radical trust in the Lord. This is not always an easy task as it seems we regularly encounter obstructions to our faith. These challenges may be people or situations that present roadblocks or bog us down leaving us without the energy to move forward. These truly may be impediments. However there is another level that lies below the surface and they call us to dig deeper. The pretenses of today’s scripture stories leave us mystified as to the depth of courage needed to serve the Lord.
People with deep faith, who are radical servants, can mystify us. They seemingly go against the grain of what common sense might suggest. For King Saul, David is a youth, “too young” both in strength and wisdom to deal with the warrior of the Philistines. Goliath is obviously a seasoned warrior who will defeat the best Israel has to offer. Yet David is armed with something that all disciples need. He has a confidence and a radical trust in God. “I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts.” David’s deep faith sends him to radically serve the Lord knowing that God will deliver him and the Israelites through the trials.
The trials continue in today’s gospel from Mark. The Pharisees are hoping to catch Jesus doing something against the law. Without a word being spoken, Jesus understands that he is being tested and like David acts in a way that mystifies. A man with a withered hand comes to Jesus. Jesus simply asks, “Is it lawful to do “good” on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Despite knowing the Pharisee’s hardness of heart, Jesus healed the man for all to see, thus glorifying the Lord. Then the Pharisees begin to plot Jesus’ death.
Although our choices may not be matters of life and death, we are faced with daily decisions that reveal our character. Following the law is important; however it is not the end all and be all. If our hearts are hard to the realities that life is not always black and white, then we are like the Pharisees today. As we go about our day, pray that the Lord will give us both joyful hearts and ample opportunities to radically trust and serve.
“Lord You are our Rock! Assist us to do what is right, no matter how difficult. It is through the trials that You allow us to encounter; that we are transformed into the radical disciples who faithfully know, love and serve You. Amen. Alleluia!
-Michael Montgomery