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January
19, 2006 - Thursday
2nd Week in Ordinary Time
Introduction
David's
victory over Goliath and the praise the people give him for it
becomes for Saul a reason to become very jealous of David. Saul's
son Jonathan, a close friend of David, pleads for him and can
temporarily refrain Saul from harming David.
Opening
Prayer
God
our Father,
through your Son Jesus Christ
you brought healing to your people
and came to bind us to you
in a lasting covenant of love.
May we not only admire his saving power
but accept him in faith as our brother,
your Son, our Lord and Savior.
Make him the ground and meaning of our lives
and fill us with his Holy Spirit,
that we may build up among us
your kingdom and a community
of faith, hope and love.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading: 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.
Responsorial
Psalm: Ps 56:2–3, 9–10a, 10b–11, 12–13
R.
In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have
mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
My
wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
Now
I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
I
am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
Introduction
to the Gospel
In the gospel
Mark gives a summary of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. Yesterday
we heard how the Pharisees are blind to him and attack him on
legal points; the crowds flock to him because of his healing power,
not so much to be converted. The demons know who Jesus is, but,
of course, they do not believe in him. Here we have different
attitudes, but no faith yet. This is why perhaps Mark imposes
silence on the spirits. We offer this eucharist together with
Christ, our only Savior and Mediator, who always intercedes for
us.
Gospel
Reading: Mark
3:7-12
Jesus
and his disciples withdrew to the lakeside and a large crowd from
Galilee followed him. A great number of people also came from
Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Transjordan and from the region of Tyre
and Sidon, for they had heard of all that he was doing.
Because
of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for
him, to prevent the people from crushing him. He healed so many
that all who had diseases kept pressing towards him to touch him.
Even the people who had evil spirits, whenever they saw him, would
fall down before him and cry out, "You are the Son of God."
But he warned
them sternly not to tell anyone who he was.
David's
popularity grows and so does Saul's jealousy of him. Saul's son
Jonathan warns his friend David of Saul's intent to kill him, and
sends him into hiding, to speak on his behalf. Jonathan pleads for
David and Saul relents. David is brought back to serve the king
once more. And Jesus' popularity grows apace with the stories of
his healings and encounters with the scribes and Pharisees. The
crowds push in on him, wanting to touch him. And some cry out that
he is the Son of God-those who are deranged, with mental illness
or soul-sick and they are ordered to be silent. No one knows him
truly and the popularity will pass and they will seek to kill him.
General
Intercessions
- That many
today may find Jesus and deeply believe in him, we pray:
- That Jesus may touch the hearts of many and heal them from their
selfishness, we pray:
- That all the Churches that claim Christ as their head may find
unity in him, even if the road is long and difficult, we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
God
our Father,
we offer you the sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord,
and our only mediator.
May he intercede for us, your people,
and bind us forever to you
in a covenant of lasting friendship and fidelity,
that we may belong to you
as the people you have saved
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
God
our Father, in this eucharist
your Son Jesus has brought before you
our prayers, our good intentions,
and also our weakness, our hesitant faith.
Yet we are sure you accept us
because of him, our only priest and mediator.
Make our faith and love grow,
that your Son may be the Lord of our lives,
your saving presence,
and we your faithful people,
now and for ever.
Blessing
Many
have heard about Jesus and his message. Yet some do not believe.
The way we live should confirm our faith, even though faith is a
free gift, a grace from God. May almighty God give you faith, the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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