In the first reading of today’s liturgy, 1 Samuel 24: 3-21, Saul, with three thousand
men is on a search for David with the intent to kill him. Saul stops at a cave, rests and falls asleep.
Further back in that cave is David and his men hiding from Saul. David spares Saul’s life that day out of
respect that Saul is the Anointed King of Israel and is also that he is like a
father to him. As Saul and his men leave the cave David comes out and yells to
Saul: “My lord and king!...why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying
to harm you’? …[T]he Lord just now
delivered you into my grasp …I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity
on you instead….May …[God] see this,…and grant me justice beyond your reach.”
Saul acknowledges his wrongdoing, calls
upon the Lord to bless David, the future king of Israel. His jealous rage is defused by David’s mercy
and affection for him and his own repentance.
Both men, Saul and David, are blessed by the Lord! You and
I, in our best and worst moments, are still precious to the Lord, our God, our
Creator and Redeemer. God’s mercy knows
no bounds and His love for us is unconditional.
To communicate that message God needs you and me to be His spokesperson
by how we relate to one another both in good times and in bad, when feeling
threatened and when being shown mercy. As God’s communicator by my thoughts,
words and actions, do I, in fact, reflect God’s mercy and compassion, His love
and forgiveness, His wisdom and fortitude?
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