FIRST READING
“Saul my father seeks to kill you.”
A reading from the first Book of Samuel (1 Samuel 18:6-9; l9: 1-7)
In those days: As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels, with songs of joy, and with instruments of music. And the women sang to one another as they made merry, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on. And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore take heed to yourself in the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself, and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; and if I learn anything I will tell you.” And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm56:2-3.9-10ab.10c-11.12- 13 (R. 5b)
R/. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for people assail me;
they fight me all day long and oppress me.
My foes assail me all day long:
many fight proudly against me. R.
You have kept an account of my wanderings;
you have placed my tears in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then my foes will turn back
on the day when I call to you. R.
This I know, that God is on my side.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord whose word I praise. R.
In God I trust; I shall not fear.
What can man do to me?
I am bound by the vows I have made you.
O God, I will offer you praise. R.
ALLELUIA 2 Timothy 1: 10
Alleluia. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“The unclean spirits cried out, ‘You are the Son of God. ’And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3 :7-12)
At that time: Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
The Gospel of the Lord
Today’s Reflection
What wrong did David do? What wrong did Jesus do? Today’s readings narrate how David hid from Saul, who sought his life out of jealousy, and how Jesus withdrew from people, who sought to kill him for doing good. Just for being blessed, people sometimes get really jealous and enraged at us. At other times, no matter how much good one does, they see nothing good in us. David and Jesus did not stop doing what is right. They would, however rely on God, the source of all goodness, for protection. The love, loyalty and sincerity of Jonathan, Saul’s son, are lessons for us. He was a true friend to David. Do you have any true friends? Are you a true friend, trustworthy, selfless and loyal? Lord, teach us love, sincerity and sacrifice. Amen