This is pretty much the story of how David became a king as narrated in the first reading of today. There is a great lesson for us. The prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to a man called Jesse who had eight sons. Samuel was sent by God with a very precise mission. Israel had wanted a king to be like the other nations. Saul was the first king, yet at the end he proved to be a failure. God had chosen one of the sons of Jesse to be the next king, and therefore He sent Samuel to anoint one of the sons. But which one?
When the father Jesse heard about this, he presented his eldest son Eliab. He appeared strong and confident. He appeared to have the right qualities to be a king. However, the prophet Samuel after having a good look at him decided that he was not the one. Jesse presented the prophet with his seven sons because they all looked to be right for this important responsibility. However, each time Samuel had a look at them, he felt deep down in his heart that none of them was the chosen one of God to be the King of his people. “The Lord has not chosen these”, were his comments.
The prophet Samuel wondered whether he came to the right place. He was presented with these seven sons and yet they were not the chosen one. He then turned to Jesse and he said to him, “Are these all the sons you have?” By any chance have you forgotten another son? Have you got another son that might be hidden somewhere? I could image Jesse putting his hands on his forehead and saying, “Oh yes, I have got another one – he is the youngest. But really he is not good for this responsibility. He is too young and lacks experience. He is only good to look after the sheep. As a matter of fact that is what he is actually doing right now.” The prophet Samuel told Jesse to send for him because they will not sit down to eat, until the youngest son came to the house. After a while, this youngest son, David appeared. Samuel had one look at him and said, “This is the one.” and he anointed him.
Jesse the father was perplexed. “How did you know which one to choose?” “How come you picked what looks like the weakest and the least capable to do this work?” The prophet Samuel looked at Jesse and said, “I will tell you how I did it. Man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.” What a wonderful lesson. We too can get discouraged because we might not have had the opportunity to get degrees from universities or perhaps because we cannot afford to wear the clothes that are being promoted by the latest fashion houses. We too sell ourselves short because we do not hold the best paid jobs or because we cannot afford to dine our frequently. Yes, let us use all the gifts and qualities that God has given us to live comfortably and to help others do the same. However, what makes us important depends on what kind of a heart we have. It is not our possessions that make us important or give us dignity, but the manner in which we use what we have animated by our faith in Jesus Christ.
In July 1992, the New York Times magazine had a photo of a musician from Bosnia, named Vedran Smailovic. He played the cello and during the time when his country was experiencing a savage and cruel war, he used to come daily to the centre of town and play his cello. There is was in the photo, middle aged, longish hair, great bushy moustache and dressed in formal evening clothes, sitting in a fire charred chair in the middle of a street where a day before a mortar shell killed over twenty innocent people. He was a member of the Sarajevo Opera Orchestra and he simply did what he knew best – playing his cello. Every day he went to the same spot in the midst of sniper fire and amidst the danger of being shot at because he had a heart.
This man provided hope using the talents that God gave him. His music was stronger than hate, his courage stronger than fear. In time other musicians joined him. The hope that they provided to the frightened and desperate citizens of Sarajevo continued to grow and give them confidence and surety. Eventually the fighting stropped, yet what this man and his others did will never be forgotten. They provided an inner strength which overcame all odds by using well their talents and God given qualities. He simply could not stay passive in the midst of so much negativity that was being experienced by his fellow citizens.
St Therese of Liseaux gives us a simple yet powerful direction by which we can know that we are living according to the heart and mind of Jesus. She said that to be like Jesus means, to do “the ordinary things in life extraordinary well.” I salute you parents as you try to give the best to your families. I salute you husbands and wives as you continue to strengthen all of us by the love that you have for one another. I salute all of you who are trying to remain faithful to our responsibilities especially in the midst of discouragement and the feeling of giving up. Whatever we do, influences others. We are all powerful people because we have a heart fashioned by our God and this heart animated by the life-giving presence of Jesus gives hope and courage to all those who we meet. This is where our integrity lies. This is what thinking like Jesus means.
God bless.
