Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51; Mark 3:1-6)
The biblical story of little David defeating the mighty Goliath is so well-known that we could call any contest between unevenly regarded opponents as a “David vs. Goliath rematch.” However, the biblical story conveys much more than underdog grit outperforming seasoned excellence.
Essential to David’s victory is God’s presence to him. As Goliath has a shield bearer going before him, David is preceded by the Lord represented, perhaps, by the shepherd’s staff in hand usually a pace ahead of the walker. God accomplishes David’s slaying of Goliath just as surely as He saves the Israelites from the clutches of Pharaoh during the Exodus.
We often see ourselves as small like David compared to the giant challenges of life. We may witness a thug beating up someone and wonder what to do. Or we may be facing a cancerous condition that leaves us shaking. At such times we do best to pray that God precede us in the struggle. In the Gospel according to John, Jesus prays similarly, not to be delivered from his final trial but that God may be glorified in him. Especially when the challenge appears unavoidable, we should ask the Father to assist us just as He brought Jesus through the crucible of the cross to the glory of the resurrection.
