Trusting God’s Strength vs Trusting a Man’s Strength

January 31, 2024 – Wednesday of the 5^th Week in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013124.cfm)

To rely solely in our human strength, knowledge and wisdom can be so tempting especially when we want immediate results of what we desire. Becoming too proud of what we have achieved, gained and accumulated could make our heart arrogant making us adamant towards the grace and presence of God. This is the concern when we have less trust in God’s strength and put more trust and confidence to our human strength. This is the case in today’s readings.

David was doubtful of God’s promise to aid him in a hundredfold of people. This was the reason why he ordered the census in order to be certain of his military power. However, doing so means not trusting the strength of God given to the people of Israel. Hence, David’s decision was an insult and a sin against God.

Such action of David resulted to punishment of which he chose the third, and that was the pestilence over the city. This cost the lives of 70,000 people who died in the plague. However, David chose this because he realized the mercy of God. Though, his actions and wrong intentions directed only for his power and authority, but cost the lives of many. It was the people who suffered because of the failure of a leader.

This doubt of David in God’s strength somehow reiterated among the neighbors of Jesus. The Lord who went home, preached and taught in his native place was received with offence and indifference.

His own people, those whom he probability played with, worked with and his relatives doubted his capacity. They doubted his wisdom. They doubted his authority. They doubted his power. They took offense at him, as the Gospel said, because his own people, they who were very familiar with Jesus, only saw him as a son’s carpenter. He was too ordinary for them. Indeed, familiarity breeds contempt.

As a consequence, the people did not believe despite what they have heard and seen. This was also the reason why Jesus can only cure few sick people by laying his hands on them, because of the lack of faith of many. That lack of faith prevented them to recognize God’s strength in Jesus. It prevented them too to acknowledge God’s wisdom and grace in Jesus.

This is the invitation for us today and that is to grow more in our faith and trust in God’s strength to work in us. Though God gifted us with human wisdom, knowledge and strength may we not become too proud of what we have achieved. Rather, may we become more open and receptive of God’s power and strength even when that grace appears to be so ordinary and simple in our eyes and understanding. Hinaut pa.