How human Samuel is in today’s reading! His story begins with him grieving over the disobedience of Saul, over the loss of a great king to selfish interest and, if we read further in the story, ultimately to madness. Just like us in our Lenten journey, Samuel reluctantly agreed to God’s call to set aside…

It seems fitting to begin this meditation with a free translation from the Scots poet, Robert Burns: “Oh, that some power the gift could give us, to see ourselves as others see us.It would from many a blunder free us and foolish notion.” Certainly, if we could see ourselves through our neighbors’ eyes, most of…