The world or the Lord?

Readings for Friday January 15, 2010

First Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-7,10-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12


The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “Not so! There must be a king over us. We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles.” When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD, who then said to him, “Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them." (1 Sam 8:19-22)

"We too must be like other nations ..." These are the words and feelings of the Israelites in today's first reading. In their quest to be like everyone else, they have rejecting what they have with God. The Israelites were so focused on being like the rest of the world, that they would not even hear Samuel's warning about how the king with get the best of what they have and that they will be the kings slaves. No, the Israelites were more worried about fitting in than they were with anything else. Because they were only seeking a worldly view, their hearts were hardened to God and to all that He wanted to give them.

How many times do we reject God all in order to fit in or just go with the flow. After all it is easier to try and be like everyone else rather than it is to live out our faith. But is it worth it? Does conforming to the world bring the peace and happiness that we all seek? Let's be realistic, living radically for Christ and carrying a cross is certainly not easy ... but it is worth it. And we know that if we are willing to live out of our comfort zone, and to try ad be like Christ instead of like everyone else then we know that there is a great reward for us in heaven.

We all have a choice to make in this life; try and follow the world and reject God ... or follow the Lord and accept life. The choice is yours.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that we have and all that we are. Lord you are so good to us, please never let us stray from you. Your way are right and good, and help us to conform to your will instead of our own. We pray for all of those in need of conversion right, that they may be lead back to you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.