Father David's Reflection for Friday of Week Two (Ordinary Time)
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy..
(Responsorial: Psalm 57)
1 Samuel 24: 3-21 shows us a contrast in awareness. Saul was intent on killing David, his focus limited to only one thing: David was a threat to his position and power. When Saul came alone into the cave where David and his men were hiding, and did not see them, all his men could think of was, “This is our chance to kill him.” But David was keenly aware of something else: “He is the anointed of the Lord.” David felt guilty for even cutting off quietly a corner of Saul’s cloak, so he could show him later that he could have killed him and didn’t. This is called Fear of the Lord: not fright, but overwhelming respect for the awesome majesty and goodness of God and for everything and everyone connected to him.
By the same perspective David saw himself, and said Saul should see him, as having no more importance than a “dead dog” or a “single flea.” What was David, or what is anyone, if we ignore our relationship with God? Except for God’s present, continuing choice to keep us in existence, of ourselves we are simply nothing. We would drop into non-being. But if we make a point of always seeing people—ourselves and others—in the light of the relationship each has with God, whatever it may be, we will always respect others as we respect God. This is true Fear of the Lord.
It is also Wisdom: seeing everything in the light of the “last end.” We know the true “mystery of God’s will,” that he “set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time.” It is to “bring all things in the heavens and on earth into one under Christ’s headship.” All things in heaven and on earth will be “united,” “gathered up,” “summed up,” “recapitulated,” “brought together under a single Head.” This is Paul’s vision of the radiant glory, shrouded in mystery, of the “end time.” 3
How will we treat each other now if we keep aware of how we will be seeing and loving each other while sharing the Bread of the “wedding banquet of the Lamb,” when God will be forgiving us all as we forgive each other?
Mark 3:13-19: Jesus “called to him those whom he wanted....”
And he appointed twelve; they were to be his companions, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, with power to cast out demons.
The Twelve named in the Gospel were chosen as unique witnesses to the Resurrection because, as Peter said later when the community replaced Judas, they were present “during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” But “apostle” just means “sent,” and every one of us is “sent” by our “messianic anointing” at Baptism as prophet, priest and king. We just have to keep ourselves aware of it. 4
Initiative: Never forget to be aware of everyone’s relationship with God.
1 John 10:10; 17:3.
2 See John 1:50.
3 Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:16.
4 Acts 1:15-26; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 4;9; Ephesians 4:11;