"CREEP DOWN INTO THE HEART OF JESUS.

HE ALONE CAN COMFORT YOU IN YOUR SUPREME HOUR OF SORROW."  

                                                             - Saint Marianne Cope

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 24:3-21*

So Saul took three thousand

Picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men to the east of the Wild Goat crags.

When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he entered a cave to relieve himself.

Now David and his men were far back in the cave. David's men said to him,

"This is the day which Yahweh spoke of: 'Look I will deliver your enemy into your hands and you will do with him as you see fit."

So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul's robe. But afterward,

David regretted having cut off an end of Saul's robe, and he said to his men,

"Let me not lay my hands on my master, for he is Yahweh's anointed.

With these words, David restrained his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.

Saul then left the cave and went on his way.

 

Then David himself stepped out of the cave and called after Saul, "My master, the king!" When Saul looked back,

David knelt and then bowed to the ground in homage and asked him,

"Why do you listen to those who say that I want to harm you? Look, today you have seen

that Yahweh delivered you into my hands in the cave. I was told to kill you but I held myself back and said:

'I will not lift my hands against my master who is Yahweh's anointed.

My father, look at this end of your robe which I am holding! I cut off the end of your robe but did not kill you.

Now you may know that I mean you no harm or treason. I have done you no wrong and yet you are hunting me down to kill me.

May Yahweh be judge between you and me; and may he exact justice from you in my case. But I shall do you no harm.

 

As the saying goes, 'From the wicked comes wickedness'; as for me, my hand shall not harm you.

But who is it you are after, O king of Israel? Are you pursuing a dead dog?

A flea? May Yahweh be Judge between you and me. May he see and uphold my cause and deliver me from your hands."

After David had spoken these words, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, my son David?" He wept aloud and said to David,

"You are right and I am wrong, for you have repaid with kindness the harm I have inflicted on you.

 

This day you have shown your righteousness to me by not taking my life when Yahweh put me into your hands.

For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go unharmed?

May Yahweh reward you for what you have done for me today.

Now I know for certain that you shall reign and the kingdom of Israel will be firm in your hand.

 

Ps 57:2, 3-4, 6, 11

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Mark 3:13-19

Then Jesus went up into the hill country, and called those he wanted, and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve to be with him, and he called them 'apostles.'

He wanted to send them out to preach; and he gave them authority to drive out demons.

 

These are the Twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter, James, son of Zebedee, and John his brother,

to whom he gave the name Boanerges, which means 'men of thunder'; Andrew, Philip,

Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheus, Thaddeus,

Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

He made this decision through prayer.

Despite being God, Jesus recognized the need to create a group of disciples to assist Him in His mission.

By human standards, His choices may seem questionable. Yet,

He made this decision through prayer and remained committed to it.

This teaches us three lessons: First, we cannot accomplish everything alone.

Jesus was not afraid to share His mission with others He recognized as possessing unique gifts significant to His purpose.

 

We need others to realize our dreams, especially in fulfilling God's mission of the Kingdom.

Second, God's ways defy human expectations.

Even those the Lord calls to specific missions and ministries should learn to trust Him to help us

overcome self-doubt and insecurity. Finally, anything done in prayer,

no matter how imperfect or flawed, finds its place in God's grand design and becomes an opportunity for grace.