The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “Not so! There must be a king over us. We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles.” (1 Sam 8:4-7, 19-22a)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011626.cfm
Even though they are warned by Samuel, the people still want a strongman to solve their problems. The temptation is as old as humanity itself—but it is a temptation. As God says to Samuel, “It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.” The ultimate rejection of God as king is revealed in the Cross of Jesus. https://youtu.be/bsZVzaHCq1E?si=RYomtvkPPezBfbZi
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Friday I, Ordinary Time
