Minute Meditations: 1 Samuel 8-10

The first king of the Israelites was Saul. The people of Israel really, really wanted a king. They wanted to be just like all the other nations around them and have a man who could lead them in battle and protect them. But God warned them. A king would tax them and make them serve him. He would place all kinds of demands upon them. God was the king of the people, and the prophet and judge Samuel tried to tell them that. They refused to listen. They wanted to be just like everyone else.

So God gave the people what they wanted. He gave them a king. God told Samuel to anoint Saul of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul wasn't actually the brightest bulb in the box, but he looked the part of king. He was tall and strong and handsome. When Samuel met Saul for the first time, the young man was out hunting for his father's donkeys who had somehow managed to wander off (why wasn't someone watching them?). Saul and his servant couldn't find the critters, so the servant suggested they consult the seer Samuel. Saul hadn't bothered to bring any money, but luckily the servant had some to provide a little tribute.

We might wonder what Samuel really thought about Saul upon meeting him, but he obeyed God and anointed the young man to kingship. He then gathered the people so they could acclaim Saul as king. But there was one problem. No one could find Saul. He eventually turned up hiding among the baggage. Cold feet perhaps?

Yes, Saul looked the part of a king, but he was already demonstrating God's point about kings and why Israel shouldn't have one. Sometimes God gives us what we want so we can see that it is not what we need.

Minute Meditations: 1 John 1:1-3

St. John begins his first letter in a tone of wonder and awe. “We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life...” John and the other apostles have seen the Word of Life in person, the One Who was from the beginning, before the beginning, from all eternity, but has appeared in time. They have seen Him with their own eyes, looked at Him, touched Him. The Incarnation really happened. God really became Man, and they have been in the closest of contact with Him. This is amazing, truly marvelous, and John can't seem to emphasize it enough.

John goes on to explain that “this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us...” Jesus is Life, and Life walked on this earth in person. John can and does testify to that. He declares that the Eternal Life was with the Father and has been revealed to us. Jesus has come among us to give us eternal life, to give us Himself.

John and the other apostles “declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” This fellowship is koinōnia, communion, the intimate sharing of life and love. Because Jesus, Who is Life, has given us eternal life, we have entered into communion with Him and with the Father and with all who share in this eternal life.

Minute Meditations: Psalm 101

In Psalm 101, the psalmist assumes the role of a sovereign, a king, and since this is psalm of David, he was indeed a king by right and by divine decree. The king declares that he will “walk with integrity of heart” in his house and avoid all that is “base.” He will hate evil works and perverseness of heart. He will destroy the one who slanders a neighbor, and he will not tolerate haughtiness or arrogance. He will live with the faithful and the blameless and turn out those who are lying and deceitful. Finally, he claims that he will destroy “all the wicked in the land” and cut off evil doers from God's city.

We might think that this is all well and good for David. He is a king, after all, and he has authority over his subjects. But what about us? We can all try to walk with integrity and avoid what is base and hate evil works. But we can't control other people. We aren't kings like David. Or are we?

When we were baptized, we were anointed as priests, prophets, and kings to share in Jesus' priesthood, prophetic office, and kingship. We are priests in that we offer ourselves to God, giving Him all that we have and all that we are. We offer ourselves and our lives especially in the Mass, joining ourselves to Jesus, Whose sacrifice is made present on the altar in an unbloody way that we might participate in it.

We are prophets when we proclaim the Gospel by our words and deeds, declaring God's plan for His people and for the world. Prophets don't just tell the future. They interpret the meaning of the past and the present according to God's revelation.

We are also kings when we rule over ourselves, striving to obey God's moral law and putting our passions under the control of our reason and both under the control of God's commandments and will. This is how we can live out Psalm 101. We can destroy the one who slanders a neighbor by destroying the temptation to do so and by repenting when we fall into sin in this area. We will not tolerate haughtiness and arrogance in ourselves. We will surround ourselves with the faithful and the blameless, and we will strive to be that way, too. We will turn out lying and deceitful thoughts, words, and deeds from our minds and our lives. We will destroy the wickedness in our own hearts and cut off the evil in the place where God dwells, and He dwells in us.

Minute Meditations: 1 Maccabees 5

By the beginning of the fifth chapter in the First Book of Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus and his brothers have made great strides. They have roundly defeated and pushed back the Gentile armies. They have rededicated the Jerusalem Temple and reinstated the proper worship of God in Jerusalem. They have made a name for themselves, or rather they have allowed God to make a name for them, among Israelites and Gentiles alike. Now the brothers are setting out on offensive campaigns to defeat more enemies and rescue persecuted Jews.

Before he sets out on his new ventures, Judas appoints Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah to stay in Jerusalem, lead the people, and guard the city. He tells these two specifically that they are not to go out and fight the Gentiles. They don't have enough men, and it is not their place.

Joseph and Azariah, however, don't listen. They want to go out and make a name for themselves, too. They want to do brave deeds and earn glory just like Judas and his brothers. But this is not God's will for them, and they fail miserably.

Joseph and Azariah take an Israelite army and set out to defeat some Gentiles, but they run into quite a problem when the Gentiles defeat them instead and chase them all the way back to Judea. Two thousand Israelites die in the process, and only by the grace and protection of God do the Gentiles stop at the border of Judea and not come crashing in and reconquer Jerusalem.

We might wonder what Judas says to Joseph and Azariah when he returns after another successful mission and discovers what they have done in their pride and disobedience. In any case, we can learn from the lesson of Joseph and Azariah not to go beyond the orders and tasks that God in His wisdom and through His representatives has given to us. When we set out on our own in disobedience, we might just meet with disaster.

Minute Meditations: Tobit 12

There is a delightful irony in the Book of Tobit. Tobit sends his son, Tobiah, on his journey with the prayer that an angel may watch over him and guide him. He speaks more than once about angels, trusting in their protection and praying for their assistance. Yet Tobit does not realize how literally God is answering his prayers until Tobiah returns from his journey.

Tobiah has been guided along his road by a kinsman he knows as Azariah (the name means “God helps”). Azariah is a wise man who gives Tobiah plenty of good advice about getting rid of a demon, getting married, and healing his father's blindness. Tobiah, however, has no idea who his traveling companion and mentor really is.

The father and son learn in chapter 12 that Azariah is none other than Raphael, one of the archangels sent to answer the prayers of Tobit and of Tobiah's new wife, Sarah. Imagine how shocked they must be. They fall flat on their faces in terror, but Raphael raises them up and tells them not to be afraid. God has answered their prayers and provided for their prosperity. Now they must focus on praising Him and living according to His law. Raphael is merely God's instrument, carrying out His will in every detail.

On this Feast of the Guardian Angels, then, let us reflect on our angelic companions and think about how many times they have acted to protect and guide us on our journey through life. Then let us praise and thank God for His loving care.