Readings for Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
We are presented with one of the more famous bible stories from the Old Testament in the first reading as Samuel relates the defeat of Goliath by David. In this somewhat condensed version an alternative account of how David came to undertake the combat is omitted (1 Sam 17:12-31). What is important for salvation history is that David had the support of God which gave him strength and courage to conquer a foe against great odds. This event demonstrates how in preparation, David is faith-filled giving him courage and in victory, praises God; his motives were morally sound.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Psalm 144 is a song of thanksgiving and praise. In these strophes we find David’s faith provides the courage needed to be victorious in battle. We see the response as ironic if not humorous given the story it follows.
Gospel Mark 3:1-6
Jesus is again shown in contention with the Pharisees over their laws on the observance of the Sabbath. The NAB footnote on this reading is a good summary: “Here Jesus is again depicted in conflict with his adversaries over the question of sabbath-day observance. His opponents were already ill disposed toward him because they regarded Jesus as a violator of the sabbath. Jesus' question Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil? places the matter in the broader theological context outside the casuistry of the scribes. The answer is obvious. Jesus heals the man with the withered hand in the sight of all and reduces his opponents to silence; cf John 5:17-18.”
Reflection:
The Gospel does a good job of reminding us that yesterday we pledged to be genuine in our praise of the Lord and sincere in our intent as we worship him. We are drawn, however, to the story of David and Goliath. The image of the young shepherd boy, full of zeal and outrage because the blood enemies of the Jewish people, the Philistines, had insulted their God is one we can identify with.
David, the one anointed by Samuel (unbeknown to Saul) comes seeking his older brothers who are out with the army (doing manly things). He over hears the bantering insults cast at the army of Israel by their enemy in the person of the giant Goliath and immediately wants to redeem the insult. As the anointed one, he took that insult personally.
We can envision the faces of the soldiers as this handsome young man comes before Saul and says “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.”
There would have been barely hidden smiles and chuckles. What could this youngster do; cause Goliath to die of laughter? The king says to the boy in a kindly way what those around him are thinking, telling him he does not have the skill to defeat the mighty warrior. Perhaps to the king’s surprise, the boy describes his exploits as a shepherd in killing wild animals that attack his flocks and how he overcame them (the full account is not given in today’s reading but is found in the full text).
The king, possibly out of awe at the boy or perhaps to shame his soldiers, not only grants the boy permission to challenge the Philistine’s champion but loans the boy his armor. In the full account we smile as David tries to wear the heavy and cumbersome accoutrements of battle, according to scripture “Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, putting a bronze helmet on his head and arming him with a coat of mail. David also girded himself with Saul's sword over the tunic. He walked with difficulty, however, since he had never tried armor before (1 Samuel 17 38-39).” How like a young boy we see the future King.
In the end, David takes off the armor and goes out to face Goliath armed with his faith in God, a staff, a sling and five small stones. His foe is insulted by the champion sent to meet him by the Israelites. While Goliath curses David with customary “smack talk”, we see David retort with faith and justified rage not at the insult cast against himself, but at the insult to God. Then the first time readers of the story would hold their breath as the mismatched pair close for battle.
With one stone from his bag, David topples the giant soldier “embedding the stone in his brow.” Then, with Old Testament gruesomeness, David uses Goliath’s own sword to finish him off and then cut off his head. There would be no doubt in the minds of the Philistines watching from a distance that their great hero was dead. The insult to God was wiped away; right conquered might, and all is well.
The story, while compelling also provides us with a moral for our spiritual development. This is one more example of God calling the unlikely hero and providing an unlooked for victory. Each time we feel that the task of responding to God’s call is too great for us to handle, we should think of David and Goliath; the unlikely hero who became King of Israel and provided the lineage for the Messiah, the most unlikely and greatest hero of all time.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “David with the Head of Goliath” by Domenico Feti, 1620
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
We are presented with one of the more famous bible stories from the Old Testament in the first reading as Samuel relates the defeat of Goliath by David. In this somewhat condensed version an alternative account of how David came to undertake the combat is omitted (1 Sam 17:12-31). What is important for salvation history is that David had the support of God which gave him strength and courage to conquer a foe against great odds. This event demonstrates how in preparation, David is faith-filled giving him courage and in victory, praises God; his motives were morally sound.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Psalm 144 is a song of thanksgiving and praise. In these strophes we find David’s faith provides the courage needed to be victorious in battle. We see the response as ironic if not humorous given the story it follows.
Gospel Mark 3:1-6
Jesus is again shown in contention with the Pharisees over their laws on the observance of the Sabbath. The NAB footnote on this reading is a good summary: “Here Jesus is again depicted in conflict with his adversaries over the question of sabbath-day observance. His opponents were already ill disposed toward him because they regarded Jesus as a violator of the sabbath. Jesus' question Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil? places the matter in the broader theological context outside the casuistry of the scribes. The answer is obvious. Jesus heals the man with the withered hand in the sight of all and reduces his opponents to silence; cf John 5:17-18.”
Reflection:
The Gospel does a good job of reminding us that yesterday we pledged to be genuine in our praise of the Lord and sincere in our intent as we worship him. We are drawn, however, to the story of David and Goliath. The image of the young shepherd boy, full of zeal and outrage because the blood enemies of the Jewish people, the Philistines, had insulted their God is one we can identify with.
David, the one anointed by Samuel (unbeknown to Saul) comes seeking his older brothers who are out with the army (doing manly things). He over hears the bantering insults cast at the army of Israel by their enemy in the person of the giant Goliath and immediately wants to redeem the insult. As the anointed one, he took that insult personally.
We can envision the faces of the soldiers as this handsome young man comes before Saul and says “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.”
There would have been barely hidden smiles and chuckles. What could this youngster do; cause Goliath to die of laughter? The king says to the boy in a kindly way what those around him are thinking, telling him he does not have the skill to defeat the mighty warrior. Perhaps to the king’s surprise, the boy describes his exploits as a shepherd in killing wild animals that attack his flocks and how he overcame them (the full account is not given in today’s reading but is found in the full text).
The king, possibly out of awe at the boy or perhaps to shame his soldiers, not only grants the boy permission to challenge the Philistine’s champion but loans the boy his armor. In the full account we smile as David tries to wear the heavy and cumbersome accoutrements of battle, according to scripture “Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, putting a bronze helmet on his head and arming him with a coat of mail. David also girded himself with Saul's sword over the tunic. He walked with difficulty, however, since he had never tried armor before (1 Samuel 17 38-39).” How like a young boy we see the future King.
In the end, David takes off the armor and goes out to face Goliath armed with his faith in God, a staff, a sling and five small stones. His foe is insulted by the champion sent to meet him by the Israelites. While Goliath curses David with customary “smack talk”, we see David retort with faith and justified rage not at the insult cast against himself, but at the insult to God. Then the first time readers of the story would hold their breath as the mismatched pair close for battle.
With one stone from his bag, David topples the giant soldier “embedding the stone in his brow.” Then, with Old Testament gruesomeness, David uses Goliath’s own sword to finish him off and then cut off his head. There would be no doubt in the minds of the Philistines watching from a distance that their great hero was dead. The insult to God was wiped away; right conquered might, and all is well.
The story, while compelling also provides us with a moral for our spiritual development. This is one more example of God calling the unlikely hero and providing an unlooked for victory. Each time we feel that the task of responding to God’s call is too great for us to handle, we should think of David and Goliath; the unlikely hero who became King of Israel and provided the lineage for the Messiah, the most unlikely and greatest hero of all time.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “David with the Head of Goliath” by Domenico Feti, 1620
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