This second Sunday after Trinity and two weeks into the church calendar period of ‘ordinary time’, means traditionally it’s time to reflect on the essentials of faith, go deeper into His word and know God more.
The lectionary readings today illustrate how humankind and particularly those in national leadership of their time, fail to trust in God.
Samuel became Israel’s last Judge, and with his advanced age the Elders of Israel worried about his successor, gathering to complain about his sons who could continue on as Judge. But, they didn’t ask for another Judge, but requested a king to rule them as that is what they had seen in other nations.
God saw the true motive of their request and said to Samuel “They have not rejected you, but Me.” When the elders of Israel asked for a king, they thought that better politics or government could meet their needs.
Israel did not lack a king – they had a king in the LORD God. What they wanted was the image of a king.
Mark 3 is set after Jesus had performed a miracle: He cast a demon out of a possessed man, also healing the man of blindness and muteness. The eyewitnesses to this began to the Messiah they had been waiting for.
A group of Pharisees – the leaders of their day, hearing the talk of the Messiah, quickly quashed it saying, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons ”.
We know the devil tempted Jesus in the desert, we pray in the Lord’s prayer to deliver us from evil, yet we can be literally blind to thinking that he is a real entity. Jesus refers to the devil or satan six times, saying he is the ruler or prince of this world – John 12: 31. Jesus has defeated the evil one so his rule on earth is temporary.
Like we heard in Samuel’s time, the leaders of the day failed to believe God and His words. The Scribes and Pharisees, having witnessed irrefutable proof that Jesus was working miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, claimed that He worked with the ruler of demons. Jesus is very specific that the Scribes and Pharisees have committed blasphemy, “He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” Jesus’ identifies this as an “eternal sin” that cannot be forgiven, as it’s blasphemy “against the Holy Spirit.” This eternal sin only applied to those who conspired against Jesus at that time. The stance they made eventually led to Jesus’ crucifixion.
How sad that the leaders of Israel failed to believe and trust in their God and ultimate King, when there are 365 prophesies in the Old Testament telling of His coming.
- During this time of a General Election, let us pray for righteous and godly leaders to be elected, we need people more in love with God than with reputation.
- Let us pray for the Church to put Jesus first, encourage truth, keeping promises and supporting social justice
- Lastly, let us pray we make wise decisions using our democratic right to vote, never forgetting to put faith in God above political rhetoric.
(Reflection and prayers written by Ruth Fabby)
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