Daily Reflection Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

It has always been true that this list of names we are given in today’s gospel passage from Mark, as well as in the other synoptics, is all we know of almost half of the Apostles. Almost half of the Apostles never utter a word in any gospel account and we never hear of anything they did, at least individually. And the few who do say anything, say very little. The only Apostle we know in any real way is St. Peter. Yet the Church is founded on the Apostles, these virtually anonymous men who Jesus chose to be The Twelve on whom he built his Church, one of whom betrayed him, another who denied him three times, another who refused to believe the resurrection without proof and the rest who abandoned him in his final hour of need. An amazing mystery.

The passage from the first book of Samuel today from chapter 24, is the first of two times that David spares Saul’s life. Both times are quite similar. But here in the first time, David begins to call out Saul on his treachery and more than implies that he must pay a price. Both times include first a call from and then a speech by David to Saul followed by Saul calling, rather pathetically we must admit, “Is that your voice, my son David?” followed by Saul repentantly admitting he was wrong, and here, in this first time, also accompanied by many tears.

Poor Saul has been both blinded and poisoned by his terrible jealousy of David. It brings him to commit all manner of sins. We are finally quite sorry for what becomes of him because it is very sad and he does repent. Nevertheless, the passage reminds us that although God very much forgives us everything we turn from in repentance, certain of our past actions and behaviors have consequences and repercussions that we have no control over and often must play themselves out. It is not that we are being punished. God is not doing anything to us. It is simply true that what we do has consequences. Continue to steal and you become known as a thief, a reputation that is difficult to shed.

Let us strive never to judge those who have made serious mistakes. Let us pray that we may meet them with acceptance and friendship. Everyone deserves another chance. It could have been us but for certain circumstances, or perhaps we should just say but for the grace of God. Let us also pray for the many who continue to suffer from the ongoing burdens of the consequences of their mistakes. Let us also pray that we will never add to that burden by any prejudice or lack of forgiveness in us. For that would be a serious mistake on our part.