Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Today David cries out, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house that you have brought me thus far?”
Like David, we might consider all that the LORD has done and wonder who we are that the Almighty LORD of the universe has brought us thus far. Grateful that Jesus came so that we might be sons and daughters of his Father, we may ask “who are we” that this greatest and most undeserved gift of all (Christ) has been given us?
Faith is the gift eternity offers to rebellious sinners like us while humility is the most appropriate response when we contemplate what the Lord has done. This is what David is doing in today’s first reading. He is overwhelmed by God’s graciousness and exclaims, “Who am I, O Lord God! My family didn’t have power or reputation and I am nothing. Yet God has gifted me enormously.” “Who am I, O LORD God… that you have brought me this far?”
Stop and review where you find yourself right now. You may not have expected to have landed here (the old adage is “Want to hear God laugh? Tell God your plans”). Isn’t it the LORD who has brought us along to this moment? David realizes this. David has gone through years and years of upheaval. He was simply tending sheep and now he is the king over Israel.
Like David, the gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) divine hand leads us through fire to the precious moment of humility, to see the greatness of God and the lowliness of ourselves. We may not know or comprehend what God is doing but we know that the Holy One is with us and has brought along. What God has done for David is a revelation for us all.
Where are you at this very moment? Contemplate the remainder of this week the events and people that came into your life. You might even have a conversation with God about it. But be forewarned that if you mention your plans you may hear God laugh!
—Timothy J. Cronin