Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Be careful

In the first reading today Nathan delivers the great prophecy to David.

Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.

Imgaine the pride that David must have felt. But he had no idea what it really meant. Just as David had decided God needed a temple and God responded

In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel,did I ever utter a word to any one of the judgeswhom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask:Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’

So the temple and the kingdom and the occupant of the throne whose kingdom would last forever would not be what David imagined. David will disgrace his office through adultery and murder. The temple built by human hands will be destroyed.

God did not need David to build a temple for him. His temple would be the body of Christ. His kingdom would be the Kingdom of God. Christ the King would be the one to occupy the throne forever.

We should all take great care when looking for signs from God. Particularly when the signs we believe we see are giving us what we most desire. How often does Jesus condemn people for looking for signs?

A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! Mt 12

So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” Jn 4

These are but two examples. And yet, how how easily can any of us get sucked into that game. We should remember the words of Jesus to Thomas

blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed

Truth be told, even if God were to send us prophecy as he did, we might like David misunderstand it. Better for us to simply trust without signs and prophecies, and walk step by step striving to do God's will.