Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 30

 

David, the Shepherd Anointed King

“Shepherd King” Detail from a window by Van Linge in Wadham College chapel, Oxford. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flickr

 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent celebrates the lowly shepherd, David, the one even his father didn’t think would measure up. His father paraded all his more handsome elder sons in front of the prophet, Samuel. Samuel, who was grieving over King Saul’s turning his back on God and God removing his blessing from Saul’s throne, was called upon to sacrifice an heifer and invite Jesse to join him in worship. Of course, Jesse’s handsome seven sons joined in and Samuel was encouraged since they were so fine to look at.

After seven young men paraded before Samuel, and the Lord said ‘No’ to each of them, I can almost hear Samuel raising his subconscious dialogue with God. Surely you could count one of them as fit for being king. What are you looking for?

This is when the famous words of God were spoken that resounded throughout the centuries. 7 ‘But the Lord said to him, “Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.”‘ (GNT)

We have so many things that judge people on the outward appearance—beauty contests, school contests, political contests, TV reality shows—but God looks for a different quality. The kind of quality that resonates with people when you encounter it.

When people met my mother, they felt her love for them. A smile across the room a twinkle of the eye and a wink conveyed a warmth and accepting spirit. She opened her arms to any and all. People gravitated to her. She was beautiful—not as the world sees beauty—but as the Lord sees beauty and as people ‘feel’ beauty when they encounter it.