Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
When Samuel comes to Bethlehem, the elders greet him as “Seer.” “’Is your visit peaceful, O seer?’” It is ironic that Samuel is called “seer” because he does not see as God sees!
The Lord tells Samuel, “Not as man sees does God see” – a line echoed in any number of places in the Bible, e.g., Is. 55: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways …For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
As we move, in the daily Scripture readings, into the public life of Jesus, we see this piercing look into things. Today’s Gospel is an example: the Pharisees do not see the proper meaning of the Sabbath rest.
In our lives, “As God sees” is a way of looking we want to have. We desire to see through events for the direction God is leading us. The Alleluia verse given today puts it in these words: “May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, so that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.” It’s what St. John wrote in words to this effect: “we’ve become children of God and that is what we are.”
So, let us rejoice in being seen by God as his beloved children!
Reflection by Fr. Xavier Nacke, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections