Anger and Resentment
Jan. 18: Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
In both today’s first reading and the Gospel, we see the results of resentment and anger. Saul is jealous that God’s favor has fallen on David, while the demons are jealous that it has fallen on David’s descendant.
They shouldn’t be! God’s good will isn’t limited; this isn’t a zero-sum game. Just because God blesses someone else, doesn’t mean there are fewer blessings to go around.
Saul and the demons are in a hell of their own making, and the worst part is, it’s entirely unncessary.
Reading 1
1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7
When David and Saul approached (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.
Yesterday, we heard the story of David and Goliath. As you might imagine, this made David quite popular among the Israelites. A little too popular, as far as King Saul was concerned.
Thankfully, Saul had good advisors around him, who told him not to kill a servant of God like David. And Saul actually listened! Not all leaders do that.
Which means everything should be okay between the two of them from now on, right?
We’ll have to wait ‘til tomorrow to find out.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 80:2-3, 5-7
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
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.
This is a song of lament, after a great defeat. The one positive outcome of it is, the people learn they must depend on God. Israel’s enemies will always prevail, unless God is on their side.
And so it is with us. We shouldn’t resent others’ blessings, but instead focus on God and appeal to Him for our needs.
Alleluia
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.
Jesus destroyed death by offering Himself as a sacrifice, to die. But that’s not the end! He’s the good news brings light and life to everyone, even after death.
Gospel
Mk 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. 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.
Jesus, a man, needed a little break, so he went to the beach. But because he could work miracles and heal the sick, the crowd followed and wouldn’t let him have a moment of peace. The guy needs a vacation!1 But He also has infinite patience and mercy. The crowd keeps coming, and He keeps healing them.
Not even Satan and his demons will slow Jesus down. Why did they shout “You are the Son of God!”? It’s not that they’re trying to out Him or something like that; it’s an effort to control Him.
It was believed that knowing the exact name of an opposing spirit would give you control over it. But they can’t control Jesus, because He’s not just a man. The fact that they can’t fight back tells you He’s more than that.
I tried to find a funny picture here, but they all seemed vaguely sacrilegious, so I decided against it.