1/20/2012 – Samuel 24:3-21 – Homily for Friday of the second week of ordinary time -

          As we hear our continuing story from the first book of Samuel, we hear about David having the opportunity to kill Saul as Saul enters the cave where David is hiding. Saul is intent on killing David himself when he enters that cave.  The mercy that David showed to Saul when he had the chance to kill him brings to mind how often revenge and vengeance are main motivators in our society today.  Especially when I was teaching high school students in Greenville, I realized how revenge and saving face drove how they lived their lives and viewed the world.  Many of these students would have been unable to show the restraint that David displayed in cutting off the end of Saul's garment and then pointing out to Saul that he could have easily killed him.  Yet, even if David had not confronted Saul and had simply allowed Saul to walk out of the cave unharmed without saying a word, the Lord would have known the reality of the situation, and in the end, it is the Lord who judges us and no one else.

         How do we treat those with whom we don't get along?  Who do we consider our enemies?  These are perhaps good questions we can ask ourselves in light of the story we hear about David and Saul this morning.  This Sunday, we will be recognizing a day that has been declared a day of penance by our US bishop in recognition of the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in our country.  When I was in Jackson serving at St Richard, I used to attend a candlelight vigil service at the state capitol building centered around this anniversary in order to stand witness to what is still going on in our country today regarding abortion. May we use God's mercy and love to be a witness for life in our world as we advocate and to stand up for God's laws and commandments.