Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings:1-4.10-12; Mark 6:7-13)
Today’s first reading renders a singularly positive
understanding of David’s death. He has
his heir apparent nearby to whom he gives sage advice. Dying peacefully, he is buried with his
ancestors. Because David was not the
perfect king, some reference to his sins might have been made as he died. But evidently respect for both the dead and
the kingship refrained the author from making negative remarks.
The reading emphasizes the need for the kings of Israel to be
faithful to the Lord. Tragically, this will
not happen. Solomon, for all his wisdom,
will copy the ways of foreign kings. His
descendants will commit murder to consolidate their power. Because of corrupt leadership, Israel will
eventually fall to foreign kingdoms.
Nevertheless, the advice David gave to Solomon remains true for
us today. If we follow the ways of the
Lord, we will not have to worry. He will
make certain that we, and probably our sons and daughters as well, have a place
in His eternal kingdom.
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