Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“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.” –2 Samuel 1:11-12 Mass Readings: January 20 First: 2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,19,23-27; Resp: Psalm 80:2-3,5-7; Gospel: Mark 3:20-21 Listen to the Mass Readings David had experienced a very eventful week. Ziklag, the city in which David resided, had been “burned to the ground” by the Amalekites (1 Sm 30:3). The wives, sons, and daughters of David and his followers had been taken captive (1 Sm 30:3). “David found himself in...

“I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” –1 Samuel 24:11 Mass Readings: January 19 First: 1 Samuel 24:3-21; Resp: Psalm 57:2-4,6,11; Gospel: Mark 3:13-19 Listen to the Mass Readings Saul was hunting David down to kill him (1 Sm 24:12). Despite this, David refused to kill Saul when Saul was defenseless before him (1 Sm 24:8). Although David had no reservations about killing his enemies, even when defenseless, he did not kill Saul because Saul was “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sm 24:7, 11). David even “regretted that he had cut off an...

“Go and fight.” –1 Samuel 17:32 Mass Readings: January 17 First: 1 Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51; Resp: Psalm 144:1-2,9-10; Gospel: Mark 3:1-6 Listen to the Mass Readings How many giants have you killed? If the answer is “none,” ask yourself another question: “How many giants have you fought?” Usually the answer to the second question is the same as the first. We’ve killed no giants because we haven’t had the faith, courage, and love to fight any. Every man in the Israelite army refused to fight the giant Goliath. “Then David spoke to Saul: ‘Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at...

“How long will you grieve?” –1 Samuel 16:1 “How can I go?” –1 Samuel 16:2 Mass Readings: January 16 First: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Resp: Psalm 89:20-22,27-28; Gospel: Mark 2:23-28 Listen to the Mass Readings Next week is the forty-fifth anniversary of the legalization of abortion by the U.S. Supreme Court. This decision has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of millions of people. Because of the many millions dead, we are tempted and shocked into giving in to despair and apathy. However, the Lord says to us: “How long will you grieve?…Be on your way” (1 Sm 16:1). Let us get on...