Fr. Francis Scaria

Jesus is known as Son of David. David was the greatest king of Israel, known not only for the battles he fought but also for his love of God. He worshipped God with heart and soul. He played musical instruments in praise of the Lord. He did not consider it demeaning for himself as a king to uncover himself and dance before the Ark of the Covenant (cf. 2 Sam 6:14-23). He refused to offer to God any sacrifice which did not cost him anything (cf. 1 Chron 21:24). God referred to him as “a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes” (Act 13:22).

Yet he fell in the trap of Satan who tempted him through relaxation with lust. He fell! Neither love of God nor reason could prevent him from the grave sins that followed, including adultery and murder (cf. 2 Sam 11). As a little lad, David was the only one who could face the challenge thrown by Goliath, but 2 Sam 11 depicts David in his weakness.

In contrast, we have Uriah who felt the call of duty even in the drunken state. When David asked him to go home and spend time with his wife, he refused saying “The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.” (2 Sam 11:11)

All of us look for comfort and relaxation in our lives. The example of commitment to duty of Uriah the Hittite is a big challenge for us. The world around is a battle field between good and evil. Human beings are inventing newer and newer ways of evil. Man tries to commit every kind of sin he can think or imagine. Yet the agents of the Kingdom of God are not totally absent. They are in the battleground trying to safeguard the human society. In 1 Kgs 19:11-18 we read that Prophet Elijah thought that everything was so dismal and all had abandoned Yahweh and as a result he was frustrated. When he expressed his frustration before the Lord, the Lord revealed to him: “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kgs 19:18). Like Uriah we need to become aware of our duty to join those who fight to establish justice and peace on our planet and having overcome the temptation of relaxation, offer ourselves for this noble cause.