Holy Spirit of God, find in my heart what you are looking for...

 
1 Samuel 16:1-13
                                        
When Samuel was tasked with anointing the next king of Israel, God led him to rise and anoint an unlikely candidate from the world’s point of view – the youngest son of Jesse, a mere shepherd boy. Why? Because God saw the goodness in David’s heart.  What was the goodness God values? David was physically fit and active (“ruddy”); he had a lively and pure spirit (“beautiful eyes”); he was handsome (to quote the age-old adage, ‘handsome is as handsome does’). We also know that David was a natural musician and poet (the Psalms). By virtue of being a shepherd, he knew the land; he was a ‘can do’ kind of person who could handle responsibility; he had good survival and problem solving skills; he was not afraid of hard labour; and he must have been patient and caring to manage a whole herd of wandering sheep alone. As the youngest in a family of  eight boys, he was probably also well-versed in interpersonal relationships! And it seems he was closely connected with his family members – they could find him quite quickly to bring him to Samuel. Are any of these desirable characteristics present in my life, called as I am to be a servant-shepherd, like David? Will I value the characteristics God sees in my heart? Holy Spirit of God, find in my heart what you are looking for.   
 
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.    (John 1)
 
We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  
St. Teresa of Calcutta  
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei