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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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St. Thomas Aquinas


2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19
Psalm 24:7-10
Mark 3:31-35

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dancing in the aisles

"He sacrificed an ox and a fatling. Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon." —2 Samuel 6:13-14

Most of us don't dance that much, especially at church. If we did dance at church, we probably wouldn't do it at the time for the collection. However, David danced after sacrificing an ox and a fatling every six steps of the ark's progress into Jerusalem (2 Sm 6:13). The total of this offering could add up to hundreds of oxen and fatlings, which could cost very many thousands of dollars in today's economy. After David danced, he "offered holocausts and peace offerings" (2 Sm 6:17). "He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake" (2 Sm 6:19). David's further offerings and his generous provision of supper for a multitude cost him at least several thousand more dollars.

Few of us have David's monetary resources. We can't give the Lord thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, we can give with David's attitude. We can dance as we empty our pockets, close our savings accounts, sell what we have (Mk 10:21), and give sacrificially to the Church. We must give "not sadly, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7).

Give and dance; dance and give. Rejoice that God has given you something to give, and that He will mercifully accept your gift.

Prayer:  Father, send the Spirit to give me dancing lessons. May I dance as David danced.

Promise:  "Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to Me." —Mk 3:35

Praise:  St. Thomas' family opposed his vocation and held him captive for two years. Thomas used this time to memorize much of the Bible.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 17, 2013

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