Theme: The Kingdom of Jesus has brought us together as the people of God.
Scripture reading: 2 Sam 5:1-7, 10; Ps 89; Mk 3:22-30
We begin to meditate on the second book of Samuel. Saul was already dead. David left the land of Philistines and came to live in Hebron in those day. He ruled over Judah, the only one tribe of Israel. Ishbaal, the son of Saul had claimed the kingship of rest of all the tribes after the death of his father. He too was assassinated. Now the people turned to David for his leadership. David was consecrated at the age of 15 years by Samuel but he took 15 more years to claim his kingship over Judah. During this time, David had proved his leadership. People had recognised in him the king of Israel. Therefore, they called him as their own blood. The first book of Chronicles supports this fact. It tells us that the gathering of all the soldiers of Israel at Hebron was 340000. (1 Chron. 12:23-40). The following verses tell us that the people of Israel were joyful for they had received a king over whole of Israel who was after the heart of God. David undertook his first mission to conquer the city of Jerusalem. Until now, it was under the Jebusites, the Canaanites. It had remained in their hands for many centuries even though Joshua had defeated them. David made Jerusalem as his capital city of the United Kingdom of Israel. Thus, David brought together all the tribes of Israel into one kingdom. He was the first king of United Kingdom of Israel. He had one capital city. He ruled for fourty years. But the truth was, David went through many years of trials and struggles to occupy the throne of Israel.
We find Jesus; the Son of David came down to establish the Kingdom of Heaven. He did it through preaching, healing and casting out demons (exorcism). He willed to build the universal kingdom of God that all the peoples worship one living God as one people of God. Jesus inaugurated his kingdom and sent His Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to his disciples. The coming of the Holy Spirit established the first church. The church is the realisation of God’s Kingdom. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. The scribes who had come from Jerusalem could not accept that Jesus was performing exorcism by the power of the Holy Spirit. They called Him the son of Beelzebub. It meant to say that Jesus was possessed by Satan himself. It was the first plot to discredit Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. They plotted against Jesus until His death on the cross. They disregarded the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned them that the sin against the Holy Spirit was unpardonable.
We draw some similarities in David and Jesus. They went through lots of difficulties and struggle to establish their kingdoms. They never gave up in their missions. The Spirit of the Lord was with them. The only difference was; David established political kingdom and Jesus established God’s kingdom. David’s kingdom is over and it is now recorded in the history. Jesus’ kingdom rules over us till this date and it will never end. The one who follows His teachings, he becomes the part of His kingdom.
Jesus died to bring us together and make us part of His kingdom. The scribes willingly opted out from His kingdom although they were knowledgeable. What about us? Do we really want to be part of God’s kingdom? The church (the work of the Holy Spirit) is the realisation of God’s kingdom. The simple way to enter into the kingdom is to participate in the Holy Eucharist where He makes us, people of one heart-one mind-one body.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
