Anointing Ones

Jan. 19: Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus anoints the Twelve, assigning them a special role in the church, which has been passed down to the bishops today. Including the pope, whether you like him or not.

In the first reading, we read about another of God’s anointed—Saul. He’s definitely not a good person, much less a good ruler. So how does David deal with him?

Reading 1

1 Sm 24:3-21

Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.

David's servants said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; do with him as you see fit.'"

So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul's mantle. Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul's mantle. He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the LORD's anointed."

With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, "My lord the king!"

When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul: "Why do you listen to those who say, 'David is trying to harm you'? You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, 'I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed and a father to me.' Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you. The old proverb says, 'From the wicked comes forth wickedness.' So I will take no action against you. Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea! The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you. May he see this, and take my part, and grant me justice beyond your reach!"

When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, "Is that your voice, my son David?"

And Saul wept aloud. Saul then said to David: "You are in the right rather than I; you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm. Great is the generosity you showed me today, when the LORD delivered me into your grasp and you did not kill me. For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day. And now, I know that you shall surely be king and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession."

David could have killed Saul, but he didn’t. Because he liked Saul? Because he thought Saul was a good guy?

No! David respected the office, which Saul obtained through God’s anointing. Instead, he spared Saul, and even told him why. It was God’s decision, not David’s.

And because of that, Saul saw the error of his ways! He blesses David for sparing him.

Applying this to our own lives, how often have we judged the clergy? Or even our fellow Catholics, who were anointed at their confirmation? Showing mercy and patience is what God wants from us, and it’s likely to yield positive results, too.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11

R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

This is a psalm King David wrote while on the run from Saul. He begs God for mercy, because he has nowhere else to turn.

Yet, as we saw in the first reading, when the tables have turned and Saul is the one seeking refuge, David grants the very mercy he asked for.

It’s an example Jesus may have drawn from when composing the Lord’s prayer—forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against use.

Alleluia

2 Cor 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

“Us” refers to the inheritors of the apostolic tradition. So, us reading this.

Gospel

Mk 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Jesus was just one man, who would die some day.¹ He needed others to not only spread the Word, but do good works in his stead.

That’s why he appointed apostles.² (And changed their names, because that's a fun thing to do.) And those apostles appointed successors, and on and on, to this very day.

But, while they have a special job, the Good News doesn’t stop with them. Go back and re-read the passage (from Jeremiah) from Hebrews. Look at how inclusive it is: All shall know me, from least to greatest.

That work is incomplete; we still exist in time, and have to join in this succession ourselves. Yes, priests and bishops have their roles, but so do the laity. Jesus knows your name, too. Go up the mountain with him, and accept your appointment

1. And rise, and then be taken into heaven, but the point is: he wasn’t going to remain on Earth forever.

2. Fun fact: whenever the apostles are listed, Simon-Peter always comes first. Even in the letters from Paul, and those two did not get along at all. So, if you’re wondering why we recognize the successors of Peter as having authority over the other bishops? That’s why.