Constant Gladness

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to You, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the Author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Are you glad to be devoted to God? Do you find your happiness in serving Him? Do you recognize Him as the Author of all that is good?

Today's collect prayer calls us to reflect on our attitude toward God and His will. People often complain that prayer is “a waste of time” or that Mass is “boring” and they “don't get anything out of it.” They can't see how spending time with God can help them meet their goals or “get ahead” in this world, for they are too busy serving themselves to serve Him. And, therefore, they are unhappy.

If we are to be happy, we have to adjust our attitudes, to change our priorities, to learn how to put God in His proper place in our lives: first and foremost. Why? Because people who are truly devoted to God, who want to pray to Him, who want to spend time with Him, who find Him the best kind of company, who find joy in His presence, are happy. Because those who serve God willingly, who seek to bring forth His kingdom as far as possible in this world, who love His children for His sake, are happy. Because those who recognize that God is all good, who understand that God loves them more than they can ever imagine, who trust in God's mercy, are happy.

Our happiness cannot be complete while we are still in this world, but when we are devoted to God, when we serve Him, when we know Him and seek to know Him more and better, our happiness will grow into the constant gladness that we pray for in today's collect.

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to You, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the Author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Interacting with Samuel, Part 6

Let's continue our journey through the First Book of Samuel. Remember, these questions are designed to help us interact deeply with the text, and more importantly with the Author of the text, i.e., God. They are meant to start up a meditation and a conversation that begin with God's Word and lead into a personal encounter with our Lord.

1 Samuel 11

*The people of Jabesh are in quite a tight spot, for they cannot defend themselves against the Ammonites nor accept the terms of the Ammonite treaty. What are those terms? Why do the Ammonites demand such terms?

*When Saul hears of the Ammonite threat, he is furious. What happens to him, and how does he respond?

*Do you think God may have allowed such a threat for a reason? If so, what is that reason?

*Look closely at verse 10. What do the men of Jabesh do, and why do they do it?

*How do the people of Israel react to Saul's victory over the Ammonites? What does Saul's reply to the people's suggestion show about his character?

1 Samuel 12

*Now that the Israelites have the king they demanded, Samuel is retiring as their judge. In this chapter, he gives his farewell speech. Identify the various parts of his discourse. What does he start with, and where does he go from there?

*Why does Samuel spend so much time focusing on his innocence before the people?

*Samuel looks back into history to show how God has worked with and for His people in the past. Why does he do this? Examine your own history and that of your family and community. How has God worked for you?

*What was the Israelites' sin when they asked for a king?

*What does Samuel agree to do for the people? What does he tell them they must do in return?

*What do the words “fear the Lord” mean to you?