Reflection on Today's Readings, Friday of 2nd Week in Ordinary, Year 11 and the Memorial of St. Agnes of Rome, January 21st, 2022
Texts: 1 Samuel 24:2-20; Psalm 57:2.3-4.6.11; Mark 3:13-19
Today we are to examine what we do with others. In today's gospel reading, Jesus chose twelve men to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. In today's first reading, Saul chose three thousand men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wild goats’ Rocks. Jesus Christ chose those who would be with Him, participate in His life, share His vision, His mission to save humanity. King Saul chose people who would be with him and participate in his evil plans to destroy David and the plan of God. We need to ask ourselves the following questions: Who are we with? Who are we going to be with if not people of like mind? "Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are", goes the saying. "Birds of the same feathers do flock together", we are also told. The people we chose to be with are reflection of who we are. Jesus Christ chose those who would help him to actualize his plans, so also Saul. We need the company of those who share in our vision, mission, aspiration and ready to advance them. We are to be like Jesus Christ, not Saul.
Some of us move from a prophet to another, one pastor to another, one juju man to another for help to fight imaginary enemies. Saul left his work as king of Israel to fight imaginary enemy. Some of us are not different from him; we leave our life and work unattended to and we run after imaginary enemies. Let us pause for once to look into our ourselves. Perhaps, the enemy of my progress is my habits, my ways of life, my perception, etc. It may not be that I am bad but that I often over step my bounds to encroach into another persons' space and render them useless in the name of helping them. In that case I am too good, good without sense! Let us work on ourselves rather than pursuing enemies. Let us work to improve our relationship with God and with our neighbours.
One thing we must also take note of in the first reading is the dangerous opportunity. In the reading David had the opportunity to kill his enemy, Saul. Unlike David to Saul, Saul was a real enemy to David; Saul was after the life of David but David was not after his life. Saul himself acknowledged to be enemy to David. He said, "For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe?" Man's natural desire for peace and freedom should have made David kill Saul without thinking twice. However, David saw in the opportunity to kill Saul something that is not right. Saul was the Lord's anointed; there was a mark of God on him. His situation could be likened to a poor public servant who finds a forgotten account with billions of naira and the cheque to the account signed and approved already. Needless to say that friends and well-wishers will consider it a blessing from God. If he asks hundred people about what he should do, it might just be one person that will tell him the right thing to do, which is to disclose the account. David also faced the same problem. It is said, "And the men of David said to him, 'Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’”
David's decision to save the life of Saul is something to ponder on. It makes us to realise why God called him man after His own heart. He showed the spirit of discernment and a firm, stable disposition to carry out the will of God, without regard to his own welfare, freedom, peace and the like. Can we be like David or are we like him? Perhaps, I am like him. If I am not like him, I should know that today I am called to be like him in that excellent display of discernment and firm, stable disposition to carry out the will of God without regard to my interest. That is what God wants from me; that is what God wants from you too. It seems to be difficult but He is always there to help us. The poor public servant should be like David, he should not divert the money to his account but disclose it to the authority.
St. Agnes of Rome, whose memorial is today, exemplified David's display of discernment and firm, stable disposition to do God's will. Her decision to be a virgin was a display of Spirit of discernment. Being a virgin, she chose the will of God over pleasure. Being a martyr, she chose the will of God over life, over the natural desire to stay alive. Hence, her virginity and martyrdom were a display of firm and stable disposition to do God's will. We are to emulate her.
We are also called today to love both friends and foes just like David in today's first reading. We should not think of repaying evil with evil but evil with good and good with good. We condemn our enemies when we return evil with good. We become like them when we return evil with evil. In this way revenge is not good for us; we should not make it an option. Saul himself was touched by David's benevolence. It is said, "When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, 'Is this your voice, my son David?' And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, 'You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.'" He condemned himself and vindicated David; he also blessed him. It is love that can touch the soul, not evil.
Lord our God, we are sorry for the time we put our interests before your will; grant us firm and stable disposition in doing Your will; guide us in our decision about what to do and about our choice of company. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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