The readings for today's liturgy bring us to opportunity to examine how others deal with the awareness that God knows what is best for us. In the Samuel reading it is clear that God's plan was not being follow by Saul (not the Saul who became Paul) who had been anointed king by Samuel at God's direction. The people were asking for a king rather than Judges who were placed over them. They wanted more or at least something else.
Saul was anointed king and brought some significant victories for the people. However, Saul's later disobedience to God made clear he was not fit to be king over God's people. God's plan was for David to be king.
It is in our prayer, our aloneness with God that we begin to find some understanding of God's intention for us. Many of us struggle through most of our lives, trying to understand where it is that God wants us to be, trying to understand what God wants us to be.
From these words of Samuel and the events that occurred, we should see a teaching moment. God wants us to know that He surely knows what is best for us but that he will not always force that upon us.
Today large numbers of people will brave the predicted wintery mix that is to fall upon those who are marching for life. For the first time in many years the number of abortions has reduced. Are men and women coming to realize that abortion is not something God wills for them or for our society.
Many will not be able to attend the march today. Nonetheless there are going to be moments when a prayer can be offered for those who are using a march to protest the sacrifice of an unborn baby. Clearly such abortions are not God's will for us or for those young unborn babies. Are we trying to hear what God is trying to teach us to say in face of such a national sin? What does this march speak to us as we walk our way each day through life, hopefully continuing on to meet the Father?
