What We Can Learn from Today's Scripture reading, 1 Sam: 1-8

In today's first reading, 1 Samuel 1: 1-8, we are given the story of Elkanah and his two wives, Penninah and Hannah.  Penninah has born her husband several children while Hannah is barren.  On annual visits to the Temple to offer sacrifice, Penninah engages in bullying behavior toward Hannah because of her barren state. She makes fun of her to the point that Hannah loses her appetite.  Her grief consumes her. Elkanah, who love both his wives dearly, is also effected. It hurts him deeply to see Hannah in such pain.

Bullying is not confined to Old Testament times. It goes on to this very day, even by those in high positions of authority.  Insecure people--persons who are into bullying others--may keep others subject to them by threats of violence, even murder.  In some instances, bullying occurs on a large scale basis, with leaders taunting others with machine guns, warheads, and nuclear capabilities.

Bullying, I believe, is done by very insecure people, persons with very low self-esteem. To lift oneself up, a bully pulls others down to his/her state.  Gossip of others is a form of bullying. Teasing can also be a form of lifting oneself up at the expense of others. 

Am I, are you, engaging in any form of bullying others, putting others down, demeaning or degrading others? If so, what am I, are you, really angry about? What do you, do I, need to do to strengthen our self-esteem?  What goals have I, have you, set for yourself today, this week, that will lead to an appreciation of self?   And how can you, can I, build others up, affirm others, find good in others and express that good?  And if you are a parent, grandparent, how can you affirm your child/grandchild--find at least one thing about that child that you can affirm today!  Seek to praise a child in whatever way you can. Catch a child doing good and praise him/her for that good! For instance, "I just saw you share your toy with your little sister/brother. That was kind of you. I am proud of you." Catch your spouse or a fellow Sister in religious life doing good and acknowledge it. Bullying will stop and you and I will be living according to the Gospel of Jesus.

Serving Christ Sincerely

In today’s first reading, Ephesians 6: 1-9, St. Paul exhorts us to stop provoking our children to anger. Rather “bring them up with the training and the instruction of the Lord.”  Paul challenges us  to give service   to others “in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.”  We are asked to do “the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not [humans], knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he [or she] does…”  “Masters,” Paul emphatically states, “…stop bullying, knowing that both [those who serve you in your businesses—ecclesial or civil, corporate or governmental, familial or social-- or as heads of families] they and you have a Master in heaven and that with …[God] there is no partiality.”

How frightening it is to see how low we have fallen. We have listened to bullying for the past year as persons campaigned to become the next president of the U.S.A. We read reports of members of Congress having bullied the president for the past eight years and then complain that he has done nothing good.  Every evening, the nightly news also contains reports of bullying. We see bullying from sexual predators, home invaders,  corrupt politicians, corrupt CEOs of pharmaceutical companies and in the banking industry, on Wall Street and so many other corporations. We hear of drug lords, persons engaged in criminal activity or planning to harm others, to riot and revolutionize the country and on and on! The people doing good in the world—and there are millions--go unnoticed,  for the most part!

 The question is: am I contributing to this world’s darkness or am I among those striving to bring the light of Christ into  the darkness around me? What am I doing to make the world a place where “training and instruction of the Lord” prevails, where persons are taught to give service to others “in sincerity of heart, as to Christ”? Am I “willingly serving the Lord and not [humans]”?

Lord, have mercy on us and help look at ways to make the world a better place, to collaborate with others for the sake of the common good and to resolve problems that need to be addressed. May we sincerely do Your will from hearts turned to You and relying upon You!