Theme: Being merciful is the proclamation of the Gospel.
Scripture reading: 1 Sam 24: 3-21; Ps 57: 2, 3-4, 6, 11; Mk. 3:13-19
We find in the first reading; David is showing mercy to Saul. Saul was after David’s life ever since he had heard the people praised David more than him. He was filled with jealously and anger against David. So he attempted to kill David at three times with his spear. Every time David escaped from it with the grace of God. Saul never fulfilled his promise of giving his daughter to David after the killing of Goliath. He demanded David to kill one hundred Philistines with the intention of getting him killed at the hands of the Philistines. When Saul made the third attempt of killing David with his spear, Mi’chal, (the wife of David) helped David to run away from the house. David remained in hiding for seven years.
In the midst of all the humiliation, rejection and conspiracy; David shows mercy to Saul. He spares his life in the cave just to prove him that he was innocent. It is interesting to see how David gave respect/honour to Saul when he confronted Saul. He called him: My Lord the king! He bowed with face to the ground when Saul turned to him. He did not blame Saul for his attacks but put blame on the unknown. He called him anointed one. He called him father. Then David invoked the judgment of God, if he had done any wrong to Saul. David showed mercy to Saul because David knew God was merciful to him. This is one of the important virtues of Christian life. Blessed are those who are merciful, they shall obtain mercy from God (Mat 5:7).
Jesus in the Gospel today appoints twelve disciples. The three intentions to choose them are mentioned in the Gospel. They are namely; to be with him, to be sent out to proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. Do you think anyone of them was qualified to be with Jesus? Each of them were in need of mercy. They were traitors, tax collectors, introvert, money minded, angry, self-centered, zealot and individualists. Yet Jesus chose them to be his disciples. Firstly, he allowed them to be with him. By allowing them to stay with him, Jesus showed them mercy. They needed it for themselves. Jesus also taught them to be merciful to make their ministry fruitful. The disciples also built personal relationship with Jesus. They had intimate relationship with Jesus. Secondly, Jesus sent them out to proclaim the message. Jesus had message of merciful love of Father. Jesus showed mercy to those who came to him. The disciples were asked to give the same message. Thirdly, the disciples were given authority to cast out demons. The people who were possessed by the demons were actually outcast. No one talked to them. They lived in isolated places like cemeteries and in the rocks. No one had power to cast them out. They were perpetually damned. Casting out demons means showing them mercy so that they are back in their families. Jesus chose disciples to continue His mission of giving mercy to everyone.
We are also chosen by Christ in our baptism. We too have a mandate to proclaim Christ. Like David, if we show mercy to others especially the enemy then we give Jesus to them. This is called one of the means of evangelisation. We need to be merciful just like the Heavenly Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36) May God fill us with His love to show mercy to our brothers and sisters, thus bringing them to Christ.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
