We Are More Than Our Physical Appearance

The  Lord looks on the heart.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 2nd Week in Ordinary Time II, January 16th, 2024
Texts: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 89:20-22,27-28; Mark 2:23-28 

God reminds us, today, that we are more than our physical appearance. He says, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the  Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance”. What appeals to God is not our physical appearance. This revelation is of advantage to us because we now know how to be appealing to God. We are not appealing to God from our physical appearance; we are appealing to God from our heart. Hence, He says, “The  Lord looks on the heart."

What makes us who we are is the heart. Our Lord says, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander” (Mt. 15:18-19). Hence, the wise exhorts us thus: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23). God has interest in what comes from our hearts. Good heart was what made David appealing to God. Let us cultivate a good heart. Virtues make a good heart. 

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath

Today’s gospel reading invites us to look beyond letter of the law to its spirit. Jesus Christ states the spirit of the law thus: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”. He mentions an instance of faithfulness to the spirit of the law: "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 

There is one thing we must take note, today. David, being anointed king, negotiate the law for preservation of life. Jesus shows that David foreshadowed what was to be fulfilled in Him. He says, “The Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath." He made the Sabbath, for Scripture says, “And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation” (Gen. 2:2-3). 

Prayer 

May the Father of our  Lord  Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke