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26 January. True Greatness. SEE. The Old Testament is essentially an account of the history God’s involvement with his people, written at times from different perspectives.  At times they were faithful and accepted his covenant invitation, “you will be my people and I will be your God.”  At other times they were unfaithful, disobeyed and even rejected God to follow their local idols and gods.  Each time God renewed his covenant agreement with them.  After Saul was rejected by God for his actions, David was chosen to succeed him.  David is regarded as the greatest and most successful king. He ruled for forty years and built Israel up as a strong nation, but his private life had many problems.  Today some rulers are revered for a long rule, but mostly we believe in democracy and a regular change to avoid corruption and abuse of power.  Not everyone likes history but it is valuable for someone in a family to have some knowledge and a sense of general history. e.g. Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Shaka Zulu and others. What made them great, were they men of integrity and what was their ultimate end? 

JUDGE, reflect and share:  Scripture: David grew greater and greater and the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. Read 2 Samuel 5:1-10.  Pope Francis.  I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. EG 49. Pope Leo:  The peace of the risen Jesus is unarmed, because his was in an unarmed struggle in the midst of concrete historical, political and social circumstances. Christians must together bear prophetic witness to this novelty, mindful of the tragedies in which they have too often been complicit. The great parable of the Last Judgment invites all Christians to act with mercy in this awareness (cf. Mt 25:31-46). In doing so, they will find brothers and sisters at their side who, in different ways, have listened to the pain of others and freed themselves inwardly from the deception of violence.

ACT: Decide on possible appropriate action from close to home to the wider world..   Conclude with prayer