THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Friday in the Second Week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Sam 24:3-21

Ps 57

Mark 3:13-19

St Agnes of Rome

May the Lord avenge me

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of St Agnes of Rome. She was from a wealthy family, but rejected many suitors, claiming Jesus as her spouse. She refused to compromise on her faith when called to offer sacrifice to idols. She gracefully suffered martyrdom for her faith in Christ. On her feast, lambs are offered to the Pope and blessed, from which wools are woven into the pallium given to Archbishops as a sign of their unity with the Bishop of Rome…

Look at our first reading today from 1 Samuel 24: 3-21. Those who are true to themselves, know that forgiveness is not something you purchase off the shelf, like an over-the-counter drug. David had the chance, to settle his problem with Saul once and for all. He had been running from Saul and living in the open fields and the caves just to remain alive. The king of Israel, had about three thousand soldiers with him, to hunt down just one man, who had committed no crime, other than save the nation from defeat and disgrace. Were David’s men not right, when they advised him, to destroy his enemy? They said to David, “Here is the day on which the Lord said to you, Behold I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seem good to you.” David’s answer was clear, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him.” In the little situations presenting themselves, daily in your life, how do you treat those who have hurt you badly?

David taught Saul a good lesson, but first he spared his life. A Christian must imbibe this lesson. Learn from the sports field. A man is roundly beaten in the ring, yet he embraces his opponent, after the fight. When God has saved you from the hands of your enemy, do not begin to fight the man or woman who lost the fight. There are other battles ahead, leave the Lord to the battle. Like David said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts.” Let God fight for you, take a break and take your rest.

In today’s Gospel (Mark 3:13-19) Jesus went up the mountain. The mountain is usually a place of prayer and meeting with God and there he called to himself the twelve who will form the inner circle of his disciples including the one who betrayed him. What sort of disciple are you?

Let us pray: Lord who are we without you, we commit all of our struggles and battles to you, conquer the foe, receive the glory and let the victory be ours. Amen. 

+Remain blessed