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Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

On the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary time, our church invites us to reflect on a passage from the first book of Samuel (28: 3-25) entitled “Saul consults the witch of Endor“. Our treasure is from a homily by Pope Pius VI.

The books of Samuel describe the rise and development of kingship in Israel. Samuel is a pivotal figure. He bridges the gap between the period of the Judges and the monarchy, and guides Israel’s transition to kingship.

Each section of these books focuses on a major figure in the development of the monarchy: Samuel, the reluctant king maker (1 Sm 1–12); Saul, the king whom the Lord rejects (1 Sm 13–31); David, the king after the Lord’s own heart (2 Sm 1–24). A common theme unites these narratives: Israel’s God acts justly, prospering those who remain faithful and destroying those who reject his ways (1 Sm 2:9). Along with the rest of the Deuteronomistic History, the Books of Samuel become an object lesson for biblical Israel as it tries to re-establish its religious identity after the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of its homeland (587/586 B.C.).

Pope Paul VI was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from June 21, 1963 to his death on August 6, 1978. Succeeding John XXIII, he continued the Second Vatican Council, which he closed in 1965, implementing its numerous reforms.

He promoted ecumaenism and was the first pope to travel widely, visiting Israel, India, Asia, and latin America. In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI declared that Paul had lived “a life of heroic virtue.” Two years later he was beatified by Francis I.