DAILY HOMILIES #Saul

If we desire to hear from the Holy Spirit, we must devote time to prayer and fasting. Without prayer, we are powerless against our enemies. When we fast, we involve our whole body in prayer. Fasting deepens our hunger and thirst for God. Fasting helps us control the desires of the flesh. If you want to hear from the Holy Spirit, there should be no contradiction between what you externally profess and what you do.

What Happened At Antioch? Firstly, “The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number that believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). This teaches us that the success of evangelisation depends on God. The believers who took the Gospel to Antioch were not exceptional (their names are not even mentioned). When news of the massive number of converts reached the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to verify the report and encourage the believers.

The Holy Eucharist is the best protection any human can ever have. As Jesus protected the Christians in Damascus from Saul’s raid, Jesus would surely protect you from the plans of your enemies, whether known or unknown. As a communicant, no one can cut short your life or kill you before your time.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says: “Is a lamp put under a bushel or under a bed? For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest, nothing secret except to come to light.” Just as light can never be hidden, Jesus wants us to know that we can never hide. There is nothing we do secretly that would not eventually come to the light; there is nothing hidden that would not be known. It is only a matter of time. It is better to do what is right than to try to cover your tracks later on.

The only piece of clothing on David’s body was the ephod. Saul hated Samuel for anointing David. He even tried to destroy the priesthood. Luckily, Abiathar escaped, and the only object of the priesthood left was the ephod, a piece of white cloth worn by the priest over their loins, which symbolises purity (chastity, sinlessness). The ephod (now known as Alb) is still worn by catholic priests today. By wearing this vestment, David recognised that, but for Samuel’s anointing, he couldn’t have come this far.

Do not repeat Saul’s mistake. As a leader, learn to humble yourself and work with people who are brighter, wiser, stronger or even more prosperous than you. Celebrate others doing better than you are, learn from them, and give them the respect they deserve, even if they are younger than you. Don’t be insecure; pulling others down will not keep you at the top forever. If God has put you at the top, trust God to sustain you; avoid dirty politics.

For sparing Saul’s life, David proved that he was greater than Saul. With a heart full of shame, Saul prayed for David: “So, may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know you shall surely be king.” When you show kindness to your enemies, know that you are doing it for God, who will reward you. Do not assume that your kindness will change their attitude towards you (Saul would later continue his pursuit of David). Be good to them, for God’s sake.

Success is sweet but comes with challenges. Before Goliath, Saul regarded David as some harmless musician. Saul loved David. However, the moment Saul heard the women singing, Saul hated David. We all have people like Saul in our lives; they become a threat to us the moment we start shining. If something good comes your way, they either block it or try to eliminate you. Am I genuinely happy for my friends when good things come to them? Do I accuse them of pride or develop hatred against them because they have become more prosperous, more innovative or successful?

Approach the storms with a positive attitude. God will not allow you to experience a trial unless He wants to use it to bless you. David had just been anointed king, yet he was just a musician in Saul’s palace, a shepherd and an errand boy. It seemed as though the anointing was a waste. Goliath became the mighty storm that would bring David to the limelight. When you face a storm, stop asking: “God, where are you?” Instead, ask: “God, what do I stand to gain from this?” David asked his brothers, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine?” Once you can see the prize, challenges transform into opportunities.

One word that perfectly describes unmerited favour is GRACE. It is God answering the prayers we never said, connecting us with people we never dreamt of, taking us to heights we never knew, and filling us with riches we never worked for. Your life can change in just one day.

God is a king who can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who made us and sustains our lives. Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will not.” Let us renew our faith and confidence in Him daily, casting off our fear of evil spirits, for we know that no one is greater than God.

You may not like those who hurt you, but at least be kind to them if you are in a position to help them. Be like David, who spared the life of Saul when he had a chance to kill him in his sleep. The good you do to your enemies will come back to you as a reward from God. Do not be like the men in the parable Jesus gave us in today’s Gospel passage, who gave excuses. Sometimes, we want God to understand why we had to deal with those who mistreated us. There should be no excuse. Be good to everyone.