Reading 1 2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
and spent two days in Ziklag.
On the third day a man came from Saul’s camp,
with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage.
David asked him, “Where do you come from?”
He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of the children of Israel.”
“Tell me what happened,” David bade him.
He answered that many of the soldiers had fled the battle
and that many of them had fallen and were dead,
among them Saul and his son Jonathan.
David seized his garments and rent them,
and all the men who were with him did likewise.
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening
for Saul and his son Jonathan,
and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel,
because they had fallen by the sword.
“Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul,
slain upon your heights;
how can the warriors have fallen!
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished,
separated neither in life nor in death,
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!
Women of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and in finery,
who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.
“How can the warriors have fallen–
in the thick of the battle,
slain upon your heights!
“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother!
most dear have you been to me;
more precious have I held love for you than love for women.
“How can the warriors have fallen,
the weapons of war have perished!”
Responsorial Psalm PS 80:2-3, 5-7
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
O guide of the flock of Joseph!
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O LORD of hosts, how long will you burn with anger
while your people pray?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in ample measure.
You have left us to be fought over by our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Alleluia See Acts 16:14b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 3:20-21
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
MASQUERADING JEALOUSY?
"When His family heard of this they came to take charge of Him, saying, 'He is out of His mind.' " –Mark 3:21
Jesus' relatives said He was crazy (Mk 3:21) after He had become so popular that the crowds surrounding Him made it impossible to get food to Him. Were Jesus' relatives concerned about Him getting proper nutrition? Or were they jealous of His popularity?
The religious leaders of Jesus' day said Jesus was worse than crazy. They accused Him of being demon-possessed. They "asserted, 'He is possessed by Beelzebul,' and 'He expels demons with the help of the prince of demons' " (Mk 3:22). Were they concerned about Jesus' pastoral practice or His theology of demons? Or were they jealous?
Jealousy often masquerades as concern for others' physical, pastoral, or theological well-being. Are you truly concerned about others? Or are your motives selfishness and jealousy?
When Joshua suddenly had pastoral problems with two people's use of prophecy, Moses asked him: "Are you jealous for my sake?" (Nm 11:29) The writer of the book of Wisdom made this commitment: "Neither shall I admit consuming jealousy to my company, because that can have no fellowship with Wisdom" (Wis 6:23). When John the Baptizer was tempted to become jealous of Jesus, he resisted the temptation and proclaimed: Jesus "must increase, while I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). Repent of jealousy now!
| PRAYER: | Father, may I trust You so deeply and be so secure in Your love that I will not compare myself with others and become jealous. |
| PROMISE: | "David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening." –2 Sm 1:11-12 |
| PRAISE: | Albert has been a daily communicant for forty years. |
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