Tuesday of the
Second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)
Samuel is an old man in today’s first reading. He grieves for Saul or, better, on account of
Saul. Samuel believed that Saul would lead
Israel to greatness as a nation. He no
doubt hoped that Saul would not only unite the nation and defeat its enemies,
but also bring about a divine righteousness.
Reality has proven otherwise. Saul
himself has been disobedient to the Lord’s commands. Samuel probably wonders if all his efforts
were for nothing, if human endeavor could ever bring forth social progress. However, God is more patient with people than
Samuel. He does not give up on humanity
but constantly renews its hope. He sends
Samuel on a mission to find the man who might fulfill the destiny that Samuel once
envisioned.
The tale is reminiscent of a recent book that has been
published regarding the education of today’s youth. The author laments that young people today
are not being prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood. Rather than being challenged and duly
criticized as in previous generations, the author finds the young being continually
coddled. The author seems much like Samuel
in his lament over Saul. But it should
be remembered that old men and women have always fretted over younger
generations. They have perennially
considered the young as lacking basic preparation to meet life’s challenges. Although education for the future is always a
legitimate concern, people often lack the perspicacity to evaluate its
potential.
We believe that God has revealed what He expects of
humans in Jesus. In a very real sense,
humans have reached their pinnacle in him.
Even more than Shakespeare in drama or Beethoven in music, Jesus shows
us how we should live. We are wise to
evaluate our progress of virtue not so much in comparison to past generations
but mostly to him.
