Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters in Christ
1 Samuel 4:1-11
Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25
Mark 1:40-45
In today's reading from 1 Samuel, we hear the story of Israel's defeat by the Philistines and find this quote: "Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated . . . ?"
Bible scholars would no doubt be able to elucidate some reasonable and proximal cause having to do with unfaithfulness, but for us who aren't so learned, we too just say, "Why?"
Why is it that the Lord sometimes permits us to be defeated?
Is it because we deserve it, to teach us a lesson, to teach others a lesson?
Rather than drive ourselves crazy and still not have a definitive answer, we are better off doing what we can. That is, repent of any and all wrongdoing and be resolved not to sin again (in case we deserve defeat as God's just punishment), to be a good example about the necessity for faithful service to the Lord (in case it's to teach others a lesson), and in any case, to submit ourselves to God's often hidden and mysterious plan, which sometimes, at first glance, looks like defeat.
Let us trust in the Lord and He will know how to deal with us, and wait in joyful hope for the time when the "Book of Life" is opened and the answer to everything becomes clear.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
