1st Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 11th January 2024 – 1 Sam 4,1-11; Mark 1,40-45
Lack of Proper Faith
The first reading tells us about two battles Israel lost against the Philistines. After the first defeat, Israel attempted to use the Ark of the Covenant to bring them victory in the second battle. In the past, the Ark was a devastating weapon against Israel’s enemies. This time the Ark was captured and Eli’s two priest sons, Hophni and Phineas, were killed. The reason for their failure in battle is that Israel uses the Ark without consulting the Lord through Eli, the high priest. By taking the Ark into battle without God’s permission, Israel acted presumptuously. At the same, Israel places more trust in the holy object of God than in God. They are acting superstitiously in believing in a thing rather than the God whom it represents. The reason for the killing of two sons of Eli are, although they were of the priestly tribe, they lived lives that were not of the Lord. They were not faithful to God, probably worshiping the gods of neighbouring people. Because of this and because Eli had not reprimanded his sons, God promised that the family of Eli would be punished (1 Sam 3,12-14).
