Monday of the 3rd week in ordinary time
2 Sam. 5:1-7.10 Mark 3: 22-30
Theme: He was chosen
In the 1st reading of today from the second Book of Samuel, we see how the people of Israel chose David, just the same way God had chosen him, and he was anointed as a king at Hebron. The people of Israel accepted him as their shepherd and asked him to be their king, and David made a covenant with them and accepted their request. He was blessed by God from every side, and he was victorious in all his battle, because the God of host was with him. The 1st reading of today is saying a lot to all of us as children of God, and members of the family of God. It is interesting to point out the fact that God chose David, and the people also chose him as their king. He did not campaign to be a king, or lobby to be a king, he was simply chosen by the people and there was no election. Given this type of situation, we will not find what goes down in the selection of leaders in our own time.
There will be no need for all the violence we see before, during and after elections in most of our countries, if not all of them. When the people you are going to serve choose you unanimously to lead them, it is simply because they have found you worthy, and they know you will do well as their leader. It is not the same thing when leaders force themselves on those they are supposed to serve. This is because there will be conflict of interest, and people would want to recoup all they have spent in preparation for the election. That is why some of them are ready to do anything, just to ensure that they don’t lose their money and they get the position of power and authority that they seek, whether they merit it or not.
Most times, when some people vying for public offices force themselves on the people, through different means, they end up not leading the people as a servant leader, but rather they use their position of power and authority to oppress those whom they are supposed to serve. We see the difference in the 1st reading of today, when the choice of the people is allowed to lead them, there is joy, peace, growth, and development, for the good of everyone, not a selected few, like is common in our world today. May the Lord grant us all a selfless spirit, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.