St. Agnes, Virgin  & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

1 Samuel 24:3-21*

(…..) Now David

And his men were far back in the cave. David’s men said to him, “This is the day which Yahweh spoke of : look I will deliver your enemy into your hands and you will do with him as you see fit.”

So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s robe. But afterward, David regretted having cut off an end of Saul’s robe, and he said to his men, “Let me not lay my hands on my master, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.”(….)

Then David himself stepped out of the cave and called after Saul, “ My master, the king!” When Saul looked back, David knelt and then bowed to the ground in homage and asked him, “Why do you listen to those who say that I want to harm you?

Look, today you have seen that Yahweh delivered you into my hands in the cave, and I was told to kill you but I held myself back and I said: ‘I will not lift my hands against my master who is Yahweh’s anointed.’ (….) May Yahweh be judge between you and me and may he exact justice from you in my case, but I shall do you no harm.” (…)

After David had spoken these words, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, my son David ?”He wept aloud and said to David, “You are right and I am wrong, for you have repaid with kindness the harm I have inflicted on you.

This day you have shown your righteousness ro me by not taking my life when Yahweh put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go unharmed? May Yahweh reward you for what you have done for me today. Now I know for certain that you shall reign and the kingdom of Israel will be firm in your hand.

 

Ps 57:2, 3-4, 6 & 11

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊    

Mark 3:13-19

 Then Jesus went up into the hill country and called those he want­ed and they came to him.   So he appointed twelve to be with him; and he called them apostles. He wanted to send them out to preach,   and he gave them authority to drive out demons.

 These are the Twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;   James, son of Zebedee, and John his brother, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, which means “men of thunder”;   Andrew, Philip, Bar­tholo­mew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Al­pheus, Thaddeus, Si­mon the Cananean   and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

 

When the Authorities digress

There is something deeply noble about David, a nobility that arises from a fierce fidelity to the Lord. Even when he had his enemy (Saul) at his feet, he spares him － for the sole reason that to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed is equivalent to raising one’s hand against the Lord Himself.

However, this would not prevent him from cours-correcting Saul. In the Gospel, Jesus calls and appoints the apostles. Yet the history of the Church shows that not all their successors have remained faithful to the Lord.

This must give us pause. We must respect the authority given by God; but it shall not stop us from pointing out their errors when they digress. And we shall do it as David did – fearlessly, but respectfully and lovingly. To judge them ultimately must be left to God who alone knows human hearts indepth.

 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  Day 4

And You, Bethlehem….are by no means least (Mt 2:6)