Is he not the carpenter’s son?

Lev 23,1.4-11.25-26.27.34b-37; Ps 80; Mt 13,54-58
2 AUGUST

David, the great king of Israel, was so humble as not to be considered worthy to present himself before Samuel, who sought a person to consecrate to the Lord as head of his people. The Lord had chosen him and it was He, the Lord, who rejected the other six sons of Jesse. Eventually even the prophet of God was amazed. You, Lord, send me to consecrate a king to you in the house of Jesse, but then discard all his children. Why do you first send me and then you do not choose anyone? Samuel asks a question to the father: “Are all your children in front of me?” The father replies that the youngest is missing. But nothing can be done about that one. He is a humble shepherd of flocks. He spends the day playing the whistle behind sheep and goats. What does the Lord do with him? This is the true greatness of the king of God’s people. But Samuel did not listen to his father. He ordered him that he were to call him in. In truth, the Lord had chosen right him.

The Lord said to Samuel: “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” But Samuel replied: “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me.” To this the Lord answered: “Take a heifer along and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do; you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.” Samuel did as the Lord had commanded him. When he entered Bethlehem, the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired, “Is your visit peaceful, O seer?” He replied: “Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.” He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves and invited them to the sacrifice. As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel, who said, “The Lord has not chosen him.” Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The Lord said, “There-anoint him, for this is he!” Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah (1Sam 16,1-13).

There is an infinite difference between Jesus and David. Jesus is not only the son of Joseph – by generation according to the flesh he is not even the son of Joseph, because he is son by adoption or by spiritual generation from his heart – he is first of all the Eternal Son of the Father, his Only Begotten and his Word. Secondly, for the flesh to be able to do the works of God, it must always be assumed by God and filled by him with grace, truth, light, fortitude and the Holy Spirit. This is a universal and unchangeable rule. This truth is the essence of the faith of all the sons of Abraham. They must know that it is God the one who makes great, because it is He who sends his Spirit with whom every work is done.

He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

The inhabitants of Nazareth live a very incomplete faith, lacking in many already revealed truths. Even Moses, the greatest man of God, before John the Baptist, was entirely made by God. He only lent his breath to the Lord. Faith is worth nothing without truth. Since the truths of faith are many, they must all live in the heart. Without the full truth, faith is incapable of true discernment.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make sure that no revealed truth is lacking in our faith.