Thursday, February 1, 2024

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.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 24:3-21; Mark 3:13-19)

King David looms large in the Old Testament.  The ancient writers see him as the model king of Israel.  Strong himself, he trusted in God and conquered other nations.  Assuredly he is not portrayed as perfect, but he is always remorseful.  In today’s first reading he refuses to harm King Saul out of respect for God.

The four evangelists see Jesus as David’s descendant.  Like his predecessor, Jesus will conquer Israel’s enemies.  However, the enemies will not be armored men on horses but the spiritual forces of sin and death.  Jesus will prove to be greater than David.  He never sins; yet he prays for mercy on his brothers and sisters who fail to fulfill God’s will.

We should try to emulate David piety, especially before he became king.  When faced with enormous challenges, we want to trust in God.  When we have done something beneficial, we ‘want to thank God openly and fervently.  And when mortal enemies are in our grasp, we want to remember that they too are God’s children.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 7:18-19; 24-29; Mark 4:21-25)

It is said that history is written by the victors.  For this reasons some Bible scholars question the virtue of David.  According to the official story, he was much of a saint.  Although he committed adultery and covered up his sin with murder, these offenses are duly repented.  Most likely David was not as virtuous as the Bible describes him to be.  He certainly had a harem and likely drew more blood than necessary.

Still David’s story offers valuable lessons.  In today’s first reading David is pictured at prayer.  His words serve as a model for all people before God.  Everyone, like David here, should be humble before their Creator and Judge.  Also, all should thank God for the blessings they receive.  Likewise, all should request from God whatever is needed for the good of one’s community.

We might wonder if scholars think the same of Jesus as they do of David.  Is his story so great because in time his followers came to be kings?  The answer is clearly “no.” Jesus died what appeared to the world as an ignominious death.  His resurrection from the dead was not a public affair in the sense that society at large witnessed it.  Yet because of it, his followers were not disillusioned by his crucifixion.  Rather, strengthened by the Spirit, they began to live as Jesus preached.  Sure, in time Christians became rulers.  But they have been aware that to remain his followers they must lead with his love and truth.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 11:1-4a.5-10a.13-17; Mark 4:26-34)

The words, “I am pregnant,” can bring joy or misery depending on their context. When a young husband hears them, most likely his heart jumps with enthusiastic hope. But if they are spoken to a lecher like King David, they are wrought with misery and desperation. In order to hide his guilt, David has his paramour’s husband killed. Today, of course, it is easier to go after the defenseless child.

Behind the emotions lies the truth about sexual intercourse. As the Church never tires of teaching, intercourse contributes significantly to human welfare when performed between loving, married partners. Offspring ensure the evolving future of the earth and provide for fulfilling the mission of the Church. Offspring give parents reason for living righteously, to say nothing of the joy the subjects themselves realize for having been born. But carried out licentiously, intercourse disturbs the natural order scarring the perpetrators and jeopardizing the welfare of the progeny.

Surmounting the challenge posed by illicit sexual desires requires great fortitude. As we know from the tragedies of kings as majestic as David and of philosophers as wise as Aristotle, it is not readily achieved. But our remedy comes from the gospel. Planted deep within our souls, the word of God spreads to all parts of our being. It makes us a gracious as the mustard tree giving refuge to the birds. It strengthens us like wheat growing tall in the field to resist pestilent desires.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 13:1-16; Mark 2:23-28)

Of all Renaissance artists none besides, perhaps, Leonardo da Vinci characterizes the age better than Michelangelo. And of all Michelangelo’s works none illustrates the spirit of the Renaissance better than his statue of David. Tall, graceful, muscular yet elegantly reserved Michelangelo’s David glorifies humanity, not above God but as the epitome of God’s creation.

The perfect form Michelangelo carved out of stone God saw first. The first reading today gives the story. The Lord tells Samuel that He does not judge by appearances but looks into a person’s heart. For this reason He dismisses the eminently fair but still wanting older sons of Jesse and finds in the youthful David the perfect candidate for king. David, of course, will lead Israel to its height as a world power. He will conquer nations and bring prosperity to the people.

Many young men would say that they would die for David’s physique, at least as portrayed by Michelangelo. And perhaps many young women would like to date such a handsome specimen. But such fantasies miss the point of what the Scripture is expressing and, probably, the sculpture as well mean to convey. Again, it is not by outward appearances that God judges but by the inner working of one’s heart. Men and women both should aspire to have David’s youthful nobility that recognizes God as the source of his strength and service to others as its purpose.

Homilette for Friday, June 5, 2009

Memorial of St. Boniface, bishop and martyr

(Tobit 11:5-17; Mark 12:35-37)

Once an advertising campaign promised to “bring a mountain to Chicagoland.” The pledge excited the city’s children who never saw a mountain other than in books. It turned out, however, that the mountain was only a new brand of coffee being introduced into the Chicago market.

In today’s gospel Jesus refutes a kind of advertising campaign about the long-awaited Messiah. The people believe that the Messiah is to be a descendant of David, the mighty king whose military exploits established Israel as a regional powerhouse. Jesus notes, however, that one of the psalms refers to the Messiah as “my lord.” Since David is considered the author of all the psalms, Jesus asks how David can call a descendant “my lord.” He means that the expectation of the Messiah as a descendant of David is inadequate if he is to be David’s “lord.” Somehow, Jesus implies, the Messiah’s accomplishments have to transcend David’s military feats.

Jesus’ accomplishments comprise an achievement that would put David in awe. He dies a horrific death in complete submission to God’s will. He rises from the dead as indication of God’s approval for his sacrifice. And he sends his Holy Spirit upon his disciples to guide them to moral and spiritual heights. Yes, David and certainly we as well must acknowledge Jesus as “lord.”

Homilette for January 23, 2008

Wednesday, Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 17:32-33; 37; 40-51)

The biblical story of little David defeating the mighty Goliath is so popular that we refer to any underdog taking on a favored opponent as a David vs. Goliath rematch. Particularly in the college basketball championship tournament in March sports writers are fond of calling schools unknown for basketball prowess Davids and the established powerhouses Goliaths. However, the biblical story conveys more than underdog grit outperforming seasoned excellence.

Essential to David’s victory is his faith in God. David himself says, “The Lord...will keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” As when Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, it is not cunning that wins the day but confidence in God’s promise to deliver His people from destruction.

We often see ourselves as small compared to the challenges we face in life. It may be a situation at work when we have to talk with the boss about institutionalized injustice. Or it may be a bout with cancer that causes us to shake both interiorly and exteriorly. At such times we do best to pray to God for the strength to prevail against the forces of destruction. This is precisely what the Savior does when confronted with his passion. We can always find hope in how that ordeal ends in glory.

Homilette for January 22, 2008

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 13:1-16)

Of all the artists of the Renaissance none, besides perhaps Leonardo da Vinci, characterizes the age better than Michelangelo. And of all Michelangelo’s works none illustrates the spirit of the Renaissance better than his statue of David. Tall, graceful, strong but elegantly reserved Michelangelo’s David glorifies humanity, not above God but as the epitome of God’s creation.

In the first reading the Lord tells Samuel that He does not judge a person by appearances but looks into the heart. For this reason He waits until Samuel presents the young David as a candidate for king of Israel. We can compare fourteenth century Europe to time of the election of David. As Saul shows himself unworthy of kingship under God, Europe was decimated of one third of its population by the Black Death. No doubt, to some the time appeared to be the end for an ignoble humanity. But Michelangelo, representing the insight of the Renaissance in his work, perceived that humanity’s unrelenting spirit would, to paraphrase William Faulkner, not only endure but prevail.

Sometimes in our generation it seems that humanity is up to no good and will suffer a tragic end. Not only do we cheapen ourselves unashamedly with television rot and barbarous music; we also build bombs capable of destroying the human race. With the help of God we too must look to the core of our nature and find the nobility of our humanity. Then we have to renew our civilization once again with that in mind.