Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Vincent, Deacon, Martyr
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Vincent
Readings for Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time[1] [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: 1 Samuel 24:3-21
Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel
and went in search of David and his men
in the direction of the wild goat crags.
When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave,
which he entered to relieve himself.
David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.
David’s servants said to him,
“This is the day of which the LORD said to you,
‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp;
do with him as you see fit.’”
So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle.
Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off
an end of Saul’s mantle.
He said to his men,
“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,
the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him,
for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
With these words David restrained his men
and would not permit them to attack Saul.
Saul then left the cave and went on his way.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul,
“My lord the king!”
When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked
Saul:
“Why do you listen to those who say,
‘David is trying to harm you’?
You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you
into my grasp in the cave.
I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead.
I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord,
for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’
Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold.
Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you,
see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion.
I have done you no wrong,
though you are hunting me down to take my life.
The LORD will judge between me and you,
and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case.
I shall not touch you.
The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’
So I will take no action against you.
Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel?
Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!
The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you.
May he see this, and take my part,
and grant me justice beyond your reach!”
When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered,
“Is that your voice, my son David?”
And Saul wept aloud.
Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I;
you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm.
Great is the generosity you showed me today,
when the LORD delivered me into your grasp
and you did not kill me.
For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed?
May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Sm 24:3-21
The relationship between Saul and David has deteriorated to a point where Saul now hunts David, intending to put him to death. David is encouraged to take Saul’s life when the king is placed within his easy reach in the cave, but he spares Saul and instead cuts off a piece of Saul’s garment.
When David later confronts Saul from a safe distance and humbles himself (“Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!”), Displaying the piece of cloth cut from Saul’s garment, David proves his own mercy and obedience to God’s will (since God had anointed Saul king). Saul recognizes David’s favored status in God’s eyes and confesses that David will assume the role of King, replacing Saul.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
R. (2a) Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
Psalm 57 is an individual lament. In these strophes we hear the prayer for mercy and surrender to God’s salvation. The psalmist expresses praise to God whose power and majesty are beyond understanding and whose mercy is infinite.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 3:13-19
Having called certain people to himself, Mark’s Gospel now names the apostles. He also defines the faculties that Jesus gives them – essentially giving them purpose;”… that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We are called to walk in this world as Disciples of Christ. It is our task to understand what that means in terms of attitude and action. In the scripture we have today we see the chain of authority and how we, as followers of the Lord are to act.
In the first reading from 1 Samuel, David who was a friend of the King (Saul) has, through no fault of his, gained the enmity of the king who is seen in this passage pursuing him in the wilderness intent on killing him. The king unwittingly enters a cave to rest where David and his servants are hiding. For most people, certainly people of that age, the logical thing for David to have done would be to kill Saul and remove the treat. David’s servants beg David to do just that and it is clear he is tempted. Instead, because God granted Saul the authority as king, David withholds his hand and cuts off a piece of Saul’s garment instead. The important lesson David demonstrates is first, his obedience to God. Saul was the rightful king, anointed by God through Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). David respected God’s choice and would not do anything to gainsay what God had ordained. In addition David demonstrated the virtue of mercy which later showed Saul that David would indeed succeed him.
The authority of God over his people is something also highlighted in the Gospel passage from St. Mark. In the selection proclaimed today, the twelve disciples of Jesus are named. In addition, we are told that Jesus passed authority to them to proclaim God’s kingdom and “to drive out demons.” It is this authority that is passed down through apostolic succession to the Bishops and delegated to their Priests. It is this same authority to which we are subject and to which we owe our obedience.
These examples demonstrate for us what we are called to do and be in the world. We use the examples from 1 Samuel to understand our need to recognize God’s authority in our lives. We also see and understand that the Lord has passed down that same authority to Holy Mother Church. Today we contemplate our call to be authentic servants of God in the world and pledge to be diligent in acceding to that authority.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Saul Attacking David” by Guercino, 1646
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Saint Vincent, Deacon, Martyr
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Vincent
Readings for Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time[1] [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: 1 Samuel 24:3-21
Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel
and went in search of David and his men
in the direction of the wild goat crags.
When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave,
which he entered to relieve himself.
David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.
David’s servants said to him,
“This is the day of which the LORD said to you,
‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp;
do with him as you see fit.’”
So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle.
Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off
an end of Saul’s mantle.
He said to his men,
“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,
the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him,
for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
With these words David restrained his men
and would not permit them to attack Saul.
Saul then left the cave and went on his way.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul,
“My lord the king!”
When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked
Saul:
“Why do you listen to those who say,
‘David is trying to harm you’?
You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you
into my grasp in the cave.
I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead.
I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord,
for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’
Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold.
Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you,
see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion.
I have done you no wrong,
though you are hunting me down to take my life.
The LORD will judge between me and you,
and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case.
I shall not touch you.
The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’
So I will take no action against you.
Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel?
Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!
The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you.
May he see this, and take my part,
and grant me justice beyond your reach!”
When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered,
“Is that your voice, my son David?”
And Saul wept aloud.
Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I;
you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm.
Great is the generosity you showed me today,
when the LORD delivered me into your grasp
and you did not kill me.
For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed?
May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Sm 24:3-21
The relationship between Saul and David has deteriorated to a point where Saul now hunts David, intending to put him to death. David is encouraged to take Saul’s life when the king is placed within his easy reach in the cave, but he spares Saul and instead cuts off a piece of Saul’s garment.
When David later confronts Saul from a safe distance and humbles himself (“Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!”), Displaying the piece of cloth cut from Saul’s garment, David proves his own mercy and obedience to God’s will (since God had anointed Saul king). Saul recognizes David’s favored status in God’s eyes and confesses that David will assume the role of King, replacing Saul.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
R. (2a) Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
Psalm 57 is an individual lament. In these strophes we hear the prayer for mercy and surrender to God’s salvation. The psalmist expresses praise to God whose power and majesty are beyond understanding and whose mercy is infinite.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 3:13-19
Having called certain people to himself, Mark’s Gospel now names the apostles. He also defines the faculties that Jesus gives them – essentially giving them purpose;”… that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We are called to walk in this world as Disciples of Christ. It is our task to understand what that means in terms of attitude and action. In the scripture we have today we see the chain of authority and how we, as followers of the Lord are to act.
In the first reading from 1 Samuel, David who was a friend of the King (Saul) has, through no fault of his, gained the enmity of the king who is seen in this passage pursuing him in the wilderness intent on killing him. The king unwittingly enters a cave to rest where David and his servants are hiding. For most people, certainly people of that age, the logical thing for David to have done would be to kill Saul and remove the treat. David’s servants beg David to do just that and it is clear he is tempted. Instead, because God granted Saul the authority as king, David withholds his hand and cuts off a piece of Saul’s garment instead. The important lesson David demonstrates is first, his obedience to God. Saul was the rightful king, anointed by God through Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). David respected God’s choice and would not do anything to gainsay what God had ordained. In addition David demonstrated the virtue of mercy which later showed Saul that David would indeed succeed him.
The authority of God over his people is something also highlighted in the Gospel passage from St. Mark. In the selection proclaimed today, the twelve disciples of Jesus are named. In addition, we are told that Jesus passed authority to them to proclaim God’s kingdom and “to drive out demons.” It is this authority that is passed down through apostolic succession to the Bishops and delegated to their Priests. It is this same authority to which we are subject and to which we owe our obedience.
These examples demonstrate for us what we are called to do and be in the world. We use the examples from 1 Samuel to understand our need to recognize God’s authority in our lives. We also see and understand that the Lord has passed down that same authority to Holy Mother Church. Today we contemplate our call to be authentic servants of God in the world and pledge to be diligent in acceding to that authority.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Saul Attacking David” by Guercino, 1646
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment