< <  

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

  > >

St. Vincent of Saragossa
St. Marianne Cope


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

View Readings
Similar Reflections

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 offertory collection at Mass. However, David danced after sacrificing countless oxen and fatlings during 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 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 Holy 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:  For several decades, St. Marianne continued the ministry to the isolated lepers on Moloka’i that was begun by St. Damian.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on The Bible on Money, view, download or order our booklet on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 17, 2023"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.