Not a tool

“God has come into the camp.” (1 Sam 4:7)

“For nothing like this has ever happened before.” (1 Sam 4:7).

The reason? “Let us fetch the ark of our God from Shiloh so that, when it goes with us, it may save us from the clutches of our enemies” (1 Sam 4:3).

God, who is the most holy Person, used as a weapon. A tool for victory.

Unfortunately, it is also our problem. To use God for our purpose. Not to listen to Him, but to use Him.

Because… we know better. “Mind you tell no one anything…The man went away, but then started freely proclaiming and telling the story everywhere” (Mk 1:44-45). God – used for our own satisfaction. And even worse: “so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but stayed outside in deserted places” (Mk 1:45). It could be me. Instead bringing Him closer to people, I could keep Him “outside in deserted places”.

God came to us in the Holy Family. And stayed with Mary and Joseph for thirty years. Giving us the lesson about God’s presence in the family. He is there not to change the husband according to his wife’s vision, and not to change the wife according to her husband’s vision, but to stay with them as God who is love. To show them that the people who love always do good things, even if the other person is not totally honest. Like the lepper from today’s Gospel. God always does good, not because we deserve it or buy it, or should receive it, but because He is love. And love – loves to share: Bonum est deffusivum sui (Latin).

“Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others. As it expands, goodness takes root and develops. If we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good. In this sense, several sayings of Saint Paul will not surprise us: “The love of Christ urges us on” (2 Cor 5:14); “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16).” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 9)