Second Week of Ordinary Time

Sam. 1:14, 11-12, 19, 23-27 & Mk. 3:20-21

When David heard about the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan he mourned bitterly. He and Jonathan were the best of friends. Jonathan had saved his life several times when his father Saul wanted to kill him. Now father and son were dead, David totally forgave Saul and lamented both equally and, because of the mercy he showed on this occasion, I am sure God was ready later to forgive him for his dual sins of adultery and murder.

Sam. 24:3-21 & Mk. 3:13-19

1 Sam. 18:6-9 19:l-7 & Mk. 3:7-12

Saul was the ruling king and David, his understudy, was most willing to serve in any way he could. He had already laid his life on the line for king and country against Goliath. They could have been the best of friends but Saul became extremely jealous: this came to a head when David won a resounding victory over the Philistines, and the people sang, “Saul has conquered a thousand enemies, but David has conquered ten thousand."

1 Sam. 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 & Mk. 3:1-6

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most familiar in the entire Old Testament. But we continue to read it to discover how to act and to find courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Everyone would agree that David was no match for Goliath if he only had his single slingshot. But he was armed, too, with personal confidence and God’s grace David was sent out with the blessing, “The Lord will be with you.”

1 Sam. 16:1-13 & Mk. 2:23-28

Sam. 15:16-23 & Mk. 2:18-22

God commanded King Saul to wage a holy war against the Amalekites. Not one of their possessions was to be spared. But Saul made the mistake of putting his judgement above that of God. With good intentions, but in disobedience, he did not destroy the best of the sheep and oxen. He allowed the people to use them to sacrifice to God.

John 1:29-34

John the Baptist was a man with a mission. His life was planned for him. His task was to herald the coming of the Messiah to the Jews. He prepared himself for this task by living an austere life in the wilderness.

Heb. 9:2-3, 11-14 & Mk. 3:20-21

When the priests of the Old Testament offered atonement to God it was an imperfect sacrifice. They could not offer themselves – that would have been suicide – so they sacrificed animals as victims to represent them.

Heb.7:25-8:6 & Mk. 3:7-12

On two occasions God entered into a covenant with His people in a binding agreement based not solely on law but on love.

Through Moses as mediator God made a covenant with His chosen people. He agreed to love and care for them, and they promised to be faithful to Him. Sadly, they broke the terms of the agreement and were unfaithful.

Heb. 7:25-8:6 & Mk. 3:7-12

How comforting are these words, “The power of Jesus to save is utterly certain.” Why is this so? “Since He is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through Him.” These are the opening words of the first reading. In them we can find great security. We want to be saved and now we know for certain we can be saved through Jesus our High Priest, “holy, innocent, uncontaminated, our Mediator with God the Father.” “He has His place at the right of the throne of divine Majesty in heaven.”