Reading 1 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7
(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 victory
for 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.
Responsorial Psalm PS 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13
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.
Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 3:7-12
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 diseases
were 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.
TRUE HUMILITY IS GLADNESS
"Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: 'They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.' " –1 Samuel 18:8
King Saul won a great victory in battle through the catalyst of young David's courageous defeat of the fierce Goliath. When the cheerleaders greeted the victors with the fight song, Saul was given opening honors and credit for thousands (1 Sm 18:7). Because of his pride, however, all Saul could focus on was that David received more credit than he did (1 Sm 18:8). He was jealous of David and could feel no gladness that David, his courageous and faithful servant, received well-deserved acclaim. "The next day an evil spirit...came over Saul" (1 Sm 18:10) and ultimately Saul's pride and jealousy (1 Sm 18:9) led to his downfall.
St. John the Baptizer toiled for years in the desert to lead the Israelites to repentance and prepare the Lord's way. John's mission was gaining momentum, and many came to him to be baptized. Then Jesus came and people started flocking to Him rather than John (Jn 3:26). John was "overjoyed" (Jn 3:29) at Jesus' success. John saw himself as the "best man" (Jn 3:29), who stands happily forgotten at the altar while the groom, Jesus, is showered with attention. John's humility was not a self-pitying disappearing act that bites its tongue so as not to ruin the party. Rather, John was genuinely delighted to see Jesus prosper at the expense of his own popularity. He humbly exclaimed: "That is my joy, and it is complete. [Jesus] must increase, while I must decrease" (Jn 3:29-30). With John, let us gladly rejoice as we are humbled.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I advance to the next level of true humility. |
| PROMISE: | "In God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me?" –Ps 56:12 |
| PRAISE: | Young St. Agnes was honored by the early Church fathers. Despite her young age of perhaps thirteen years, she faced her martyr's death with extreme calm when her vow to virginity was threatened. |
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