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“Saul Attacking David” by Guercino, 1646
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Commentary:
Reading I: 1 Samuel 24:3-21
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.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
R. (2a) 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.
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Gospel: Mark 3:13-19
Commentary on Mk 3:13-19
The setting for this event is placed on a “mountain” depicting the solemnity of the occasion, as is done in other places in St. Mark’s Gospel (see also Mark 6:46; 9:2-8; 13:3). Having called certain people to himself (unlike St. Matthew, in which the group is assumed to have been known Matthew 10:1-15), 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.”
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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 own, 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 have been to kill Saul and remove the threat. 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. 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
Pax
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