He Reigns

                 Reflection for Monday  of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A

                                               (2Sam 5:1-5, 10; Mk 3:22-30)

The stage is set for David to be King. Saul fought a lost battle because what God has sanctioned must be fulfilled. So all the tribes of Israel approached David at Hebron and made him king. “David was 30 years of age when he began to reign, and he reigned for 40 years.” He ruled from Hebron for  seven years and six months, then he went up to Jerusalem where he ruled for thirty-three years. From there he conquered the enemies of Israel, the Jebusites, and made Jerusalem secure. The Lord made David greater and greater...

As David went up to Jerusalem to establish a dynasty,  so Jesus would go up to Jerusalem to save us. But in the Gospel of today, some Scribes came down from Jerusalem to castigate Jesus. “He is possesses by Beelzebul, and by the Prince of demons he casts out Satan.” Their plan was to disrupt the mission of Jesus Christ by trying to convince the people not to submit to Him. “Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut up the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to” (Mt 23:13). 

As the elders of Israel recognised the anointing of God on David and made him their king, these hypocritical Scribes, who recognised the power of God Jesus demonstrated, gave a false and conflicting testimony, deliberately orchestrated to deceive others. This sort of evil behaviour can lead to eternal damnation. It will turn out to be another lost battle, such as the one Saul fought against David in order to prevent his kingship. 

Jesus is the real ‘Strongman’ who subdues and plunders every opposing authority, and binds every evil force. So we gather around Him at this Eucharistic celebration that He may reign over us, and keep us secure. From His heavenly Jerusalem He sends forth this grace, that we too will reign with Him.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 

Tedi-Muwo,  Ojo, Lagos.

Monday 27th January, 2020.