… APPOINT FOR US A KING TO GOVERN US LIKE ALL THE NATIONS

⏰Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Year 2 (17 January 2020 – Memorial of St. Anthony, Abbot)

📖1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22a; Ps 89:16-17, 18-19 (R.v.2a); Mark 2:1-12

🎤”… APPOINT FOR US A KING TO GOVERN US LIKE ALL THE NATIONS” (1 Sam 8:5)

Social influence is not bad in itself but if it does not take us to our ultimate goal, which is found in the spiritual realm, it would be a scam.?

Consider its effects in both 1 Sam 8:1ff and Mark 2:1-12.

In the first, the people asked Samuel to appoint a king for them, and insisted on it even after Samuel had explained the implications to them. That was because they wanted to be like other nations (1 Sam 8:5), even if it means a rejection of God (cf. 1 Sam 8:8).

On the other hand, in the second, it was the effort of the friends of the paralytic that got him to Jesus’ presence against all odds. Again, it was their faith that moved Jesus to heal the man (cf. Mark 2:5).

St. Paul advised us, “Do not be deceived, ‘Bad company corrupts good morals'” (1 Cor 15:33).

👉🏽Who are your friends in the society? Do they take you closer to God or far away from him?

👉🏽Again, have you chosen to follow the worldly way while rejecting the way of God just because you “want to belong”?

👉🏽Does your life have a positive influence on other people or lead them to error?

St. Anthony of Egypt, whose memorial we celebrate today was born of rich and Christian parents. As a young man, he divided all his possessions among and retired into the desert, where he lived in hermitage, practicing mortification and devoting his life to prayer and manual labour. He didn’t allow worldly affairs to take over his soul.

May God give us the grace to stand with God at all times. May he not allow things that will lead us into the dungeon of sin to come our way, through Christ our Lord. Amen.?

Have a great day ahead. Peace be with you.