Fr Bob writes : Fr Denny Dempsey has some interesting comments about our first reading this weekend, where the prophet Samuel is sent by God to anoint a king in place of Saul who disobeyed God. Here is what he says:
“As the apostles would later think the blind man in our gospel this Sunday lacks God’s favour because of his malady, Samuel judges God’s favor based on physical appearance.
Young Samuel had been placed in the service of the Lord under the priest Eli at the sanctuary of the Lord in Shiloh. 1 Samuel 3 recounts how he learned to listen to the voice of God: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” In today’s passage, as Samuel is to select the next king of Israel and Judah, he does what we often do … neglects to ask God’s guidance, trusting in his instincts to guide his decision-making process, thus judging “as man sees.” Before Samuel acts, God quickly corrects him to see as God sees … looking not at the appearance but into the heart.
Samuel was operating under some stress at the time. Saul, whom he had anointed, was still king. If news got out that Samuel was anointing a replacement without the king’s knowledge, the prophet’s life would be on the line. We, too, make some of our worst decisions under stress, forgetting to consult God. May God catch our attention as quickly as he did Samuel’s when, under whatever stresses that may affect us, we forget to consult God for the decisions we must make in life.”