Samuel, it seems, never had an ordinary time. As a child he was dedicated by his parents to serve God.  He first worked for and with priests. He eventually became a judge and prophet.  He heard the word of God and related it to the people. Samuel was also directly instructed by God; he listened to God and obeyed. God gave him the role of messenger and anointer of kings (a kingmaker, it seems). When King Saul was no longer favored to be king by God, God told Samuel to go to Jesse in Bethlehem where he was to anoint one of Jesse’s many sons as the next King.  As each son passed before Samuel and Jesse, the Lord indicated to Jesse whether each one was suitable. None of the sons, though they all were stately figures, was indicated by God. Samuel asked Jesse if there were other sons. Jesse may have responded, “well, there is a young one, a shepherd.” Samuel, with God’s approval, chose and anointed David, the shepherd, as the next king. God chose David not for his stature, looks, or experience, but rather, for   what He perceived in the young man’s heart.  We find the affirmative words of God concerning David in the responsorial psalm (89) today: “I have found David, my servant...on a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.”

We know from studying our shared Judeo-Christian history that David had, because of the interruption of his bucolic life, been chased by the enraged Saul, faced, and killed Goliath, became king, and secured Israel. He was soon seen as a champion by the people. He was also capable of profound sins.  God had chosen this man, even with his foibles. When I reflect on David’s life, I see that our God is the God of providence.  God knows what peaks and valleys we are capable of finding. He will lead us in the direction of salvation despite our proud assertions of our own will. Like David, we can rise and do the important things that God intends us to do. We hold that thought and God in our hearts as we create the mosaic of good and bad outcomes that forms our life history. Think of our own lives. Good will come of our actions if we are champions and servants for God and His creation. The alleluia today provides a beautiful summary of the first reading: “may the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.”

The gospel describes Jesus and the disciples walking through a field of grain. As one might do if they were active and hungry, they picked some grains to chew as they walked. The Pharisees must have trailed them closely to point out that this miniscule “harvest” was an infraction of the law of the Sabbath. Jesus, in response, pointed out two things to “chew on.” The first was the account of King David breaking this rule to a much greater degree.  He and his men ate sacrificial food meant only for the Priests. The second point that Jesus made was a much more unexpected one. He said that we were not made for the Sabbath; the Sabbath was made for us.  Jesus then said, “that is why the Son of Man [Jesus] is Lord, even of the Sabbath.” Honoring God, the Lord, is the spirit of the Sabbath. Rest and reflect; God genuinely wants the serenity and happiness that we have on the Sabbath to endure throughout our lives.