1st book of Samuel 4,1-11.
and Samuel spoke to all Israel. At that time, the Philistines gathered for an attack on Israel. Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel. After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield. When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies." So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of God. When the ark of the LORD arrived in the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth resounded. The Philistines, hearing the noise of shouting, asked, "What can this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" On learning that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were frightened. They said, "Gods have come to their camp." They said also, "Woe to us! This has never happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with various plagues and with pestilence. Take courage and be manly, Philistines; otherwise you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they were your slaves. So fight manfully!" The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; every man fled to his own tent. It was a disastrous defeat, in which Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were among the dead.
Psalms 44(43),10-11.14-15.25-26.
But now you have rejected and disgraced us; you do not march out with our armies.
You make us retreat before the foe; those who hate us plunder us at will.
You make us the reproach of our neighbors, the mockery and scorn of those around us.
You make us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.
Why do you hide your face; why forget our pain and misery?
We are bowed down to the ground; our bodies are pressed to the earth.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1,40-45.
A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
THE AGONY OF DEFEAT
"It was a disastrous defeat." –1 Samuel 4:10
I've been gazing at a statue of the Pieta. Mary has just suffered a disastrous loss. Before her very eyes, her Son Jesus was brutally tortured and crucified. She stood near His cross (Jn 19:25), pierced with a sword of sorrow (Lk 2:35) far more painful than any spear. Now she is holding the body of her Son, looking heavenward in a gaze of docility tinged with unspeakable suffering. Though Mary suffered a disastrous loss, she suffered in righteousness and faithfulness.
The Israelites under the priesthood of Eli and sons were steeped in sin and idolatry. By their hardness of heart, they "defeated God's plan in their regard" (Lk 7:30). They were defeated in battle, losing four thousand men (1 Sm 4:2). Then they brought God into the picture without bringing their lives under His lordship. They fought again, and were defeated disastrously, losing thirty thousand men (1 Sm 4:10). Israel's defeat was suffered in faithlessness, not righteousness.
If we live as faithful disciples of Jesus, storms (Mt 7:25), futile labor (Mk 6:48; Is 49:4), and trials (Jas 1:2; Sir 2:1), will come our way, in addition to our daily crosses (Lk 9:23). If we live in sin, we will suffer its consequences and defeats. Let's make certain our sufferings come in righteousness rather than sinfulness. Repent immediately! Live in faithfulness.
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