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“Saul and David”
by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn,1655-60 |
Readings for Thursday of the
Second Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading I: 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
When David and Saul
approached(on David’s return after
slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of
the cities of Israel
to meet King Saul,singing and dancing, with
tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.The women played and sang: “Saul has slain his
thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
Saul was very angry and
resentful of the song, for he thought:“They give David ten
thousands, but only thousands to me.All that remains for him is
the kingship.”And from that day on, Saul was
jealous of David.
Saul discussed his intention
of killing David with his son Jonathan and
with all his servants.But Saul’s son Jonathan, who
was very fond of David, told him:“My father Saul is trying to
kill you.Therefore, please be on your
guard tomorrow morning; get out of sight and remain
in hiding.I, however, will go out and
stand beside my father in the countryside where you
are, and will speak to him about you.If I learn anything, I will
let you know.”
Jonathan then spoke well of
David to his father Saul, saying to him:“Let not your majesty sin
against his servant David, for he has committed no
offense against you, but has helped you very much
by his deeds.When he took his life in his
hands and slew the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a
great victoryfor all Israel through him, you were glad to see it.Why, then, should you become
guilty of shedding innocent blood by killing David without
cause?”Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea
and swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall
not be killed.”So Jonathan summoned David
and repeated the whole conversation to him.Jonathan then brought David
to Saul, and David served him as before.-------------------------------------------Commentary on 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Following David’s defeat of Goliath, Saul, now deprived of the Lord
since he failed to do as God commanded through Samuel, becomes jealous of David
because the Lord is clearly with him. (Recall Saul disobeyed the Lord who
commanded him to destroy the Amaleks and their king, Agag, taking no spoils,
and the Lord removed his favor from him. 1 Samuel 15:1-9) Three times
during this section it is stated that David is successful, and three times
Saul's response is fear.
Saul’s plot to kill David is thwarted through the intervention of his
son Jonathan. Although Saul swears that David will not be killed, the spirit of
evil has entered Saul, filling the void the Lord had left when he departed, and
this promise is short-lived. This episode is repeated later in 1 Samuel 20:2ff. It is placed
here primarily to contrast Saul’s fall from grace and David’s ascension.
CCC: 1 Sm 19:1-14 2583
-------------------------------------------Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13
R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for
men trample upon me;all the day they press their
attack against me.My adversaries trample upon
me all the day;yes, many fight against me.R. In God I trust; I shall
not fear.
My wanderings you have
counted;my tears are stored in your
flask;are they not recorded in your
book?Then do my enemies turn back,when I call upon you.R. In God I trust; I shall
not fear.
Now I know that God is with
me.In God, in whose promise I
glory,in God I trust without fear;what can flesh do against me?R. In God I trust; I shall
not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to
you;your thank offerings I will
fulfill.For you have rescued me from
death,my feet, too, from stumbling;that I may walk before God in
the light of the living.R. In God I trust; I shall
not fear.
-------------------------------------------Commentary on Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13
Psalm 56 is a
lament in which the psalmist is being pressed by enemies but has faith that God
will support the faithful against all odds. The singer further pledges
continuing faithfulness in thanksgiving for the Lord’s help.
-------------------------------------------Gospel: Mark 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea
with his disciples.A large number of people
followed from Galilee and from Judea.Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came
to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.He told his disciples to have
a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush
him.
He had cured many and, as a
result, those who had diseaseswere pressing upon him to touch
him.And whenever unclean spirits
saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son
of God.”He warned them sternly not to
make him known.-------------------------------------------Commentary on Mk 3:7-12
This selection from St. Mark’s Gospel marks a transition from
Jesus ministering to the people on his own and his teachings to the disciples.
Here, the Gospel provides a summary of the activities of Jesus whose healing
ministry has caused a great crowd to follow him. His rising popularity is a
testament to the power of what he teaches, and the signs he performs are a
prelude to the universal spread of the Gospel message.
The encounter with unclean spirits is met, as earlier, with
attempts to ward off his power over them using his title: “You are the Son
of God.” It is interesting that the recognition of his true nature comes
from those sent by the evil one. “Their prostration before him is not a sign of
genuine worship but an obeisance compelled by Jesus’ irresistible authority (as
in Mark 5:6). Nor is
their clamorous shout a confession of faith, but a futile attempt to render him
harmless, in accord with the common view that one could acquire mastery over another
by using the individual’s name (see Mark 1:24; Mark 5:7).” [4]
CCC: Mk 3:10 1504
-------------------------------------------Reflection:
The Gospel depicts Jesus in Galilee at the height of his popularity. People are coming from all around to see him,
to listen to him and to see the miracles of healing he performs. It is so intense we are told that the
disciples must get a boat ready in case the crowd, in its exuberance, crushes
him.
Have you ever wondered why,
when the unclean spirits identified him as the Messiah, the Lord refused to
allow them to make that fact known to the adoring crowds? It would have been much easier if Jesus had
proclaimed his identity in the face of this surge of popularity. The crowd, so taken by him that there was a
danger of physical injury, might have even revolted against the scribes and
Pharisees who hated him.
Jesus could have avoided the
cross if he had told them who he was and by whose authority he came. Why didn’t he take that road? As we seek to answer that question, our first
thought might be: “It would not have been right.” Jesus needed to fulfill the plan God had set
in motion from the beginning. The
prophets had seen it and had laid the foundation for thousands of years. Now
the Son of God must not embrace the popular notoriety, the “rock star” status
that could be his. His mission was
salvation for the people, not himself.
As we think about the choice
made at this critical juncture in Jesus’ ministry, we can think about our own
situations as well. How often do we
accept acclaim for things that we have done instead of giving credit to the
Father for the great gifts he bestowed on us, God-given gifts that allowed us
to accomplish the good that we do? How
often are we seduced by the secular successes we might achieve at the expense
of our own spiritual growth? We see
clearly what happens to people who remind secular crowds that Jesus is behind
their success. Look at the animosity
garnered by Tim Tebow!
That is the lesson we take
away from St. Mark’s brief description of Jesus at a high point in his popularity. We see him live the humility that he asks of
all his disciples. He points always to
God’s greater glory even when he could have let the unclean spirits proclaim
him king. Today we pray that all we are
able to accomplish will point others to our Heavenly Father. May the Lord prosper the works of our hands,
this day and always.
Pax
[1]
The picture is “Saul and David” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn,1655-60.
[2]
S.S.
Commemoratio[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and
is for private use only.
[4]
The Gospel of Mark, Mary Healy © 2008, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids MI, p. 71.
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