First Friday of Ordinary Time

All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us." Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king."

All of us have rejected God in one way or another. Some of us have rejected Him through sin. Others through being caught up in worldly distractions or laziness. However, no matter the reason, God will always be our King, waiting for us to allow Him to protect us from the wickedness and snares of the Devil and the world. He won’t force us to accept Him because He wants us to give our faith to Him freely and without reservation. He wants us to become His followers by our own choice. So let us remember that when we make sins or worldly things our kings, we will suffer greatly for it, but if we turn to God, then He will grant us what is good and lead us to the Promised Land and eternal life with Him.

In what ways are we rejecting God? How can we overcome our sins and inordinate attractions to worldly things? What can we do to place God firmly at the center of our lives?

O Lord, you are our one and only King. Rule over our hearts forever.

Amen.