David: the King of Israel

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 11 and the Memorial of St. Francis De Sale, January 24th, 2022
Texts: 2 Samuel 5:1-7. 10; Psalm 89:20-22.25-26; Mark 3:22-30
Today's first reading shows that authority is a gift from the Lord and that it is also earned. For one to get authority it must be in God's plan to bestow it on him/her. It is said, "the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’" It shows that David earned the position in the following words: "In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel".  This tells us that to whom God has assigned task He gives the necessary qualities and grace to accomplish it. God endowed David with the leadership qualities and the grace to showcase them. We also learn that there is no need to fight over the position of authority; whatever that is ours will definitely come to us. Saul did a lot to frustrate David and get him out of the way, but he was unsuccessful. David did not fight over the position; he was begged to take it.
Jesus Christ was denied of the action of the Holy Spirit in Himself,  He was rather said to have acted by the power of unclean spirit. This could also happen to us, sometimes, that people will tend to accuse us of impure motive when we do good. There are some people who will see us as threat to their lives. Some will try to sabotage our efforts. David has taught us to always stand with God at all times.
Many a time we could also be like the scribes when we deny the action of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments. We need to believe that sins are forgiven and temporal punishment is taken away through baptism. We need to believe firmly that the Holy Spirit is poured into us at confirmation. We need to hold firmly the power of forgiveness of the sacrament of reconciliation. We need to hold firmly the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Where is our belief in the sacrament of confirmation when we refuse to show forth what it means to be soldiers of jesus Christ?  Where is our belief in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, when we go from one prophet to another, from one pastor to another, from one mountain to another? If we hold firmly our belief in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we will run to Him in the Blessed Sacrament
Jesus christ calls the denial of the action of Holy Spirit. He puts it thus: "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiving the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but who ever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin for they had said, 'He has an unclean spirit'”

O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbour. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke