January 17, 2018

Readings: 

First Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

Responsorial: Psalm 144:1B, 2, 9-10

Mark 3:1-6

The words for the day are stones and rocks. Both play a conspicuous role in the readings today. The story of David and Goliath is all about stones, 5 smooth stones, one of which ended up embedded in the brow of Goliath by David using a Shepherd’s sling shot. We all know that story.

The responsorial drawn from Psalm 144 evokes the imagery of the Lord being the rock we rely upon to protect and strengthen us. Curious about how common the imagery might be, I ran a concordance search and located at least 59 such references. Almost certainly there are more to found but I got bored with the search.

The image of God as being our rock is not as easy to see in the Gospel reading for today. The passage from Mark 3:3-6 centers on Jesus entering a synagogue on the Sabbath and encountering a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees were practically salivating over the prospect of Jesus breaking the law by healing the man on the Sabbath in direct violation of precepts against working on the Sabbath. Jesus challenged them by asking if was wrong to do right on the Sabbath and serve the greater good by healing the man. Jesus was angered and saddened by the response but he still healed the man in spite of the potential consequences which included the instigation of a plot to kill him. Jesus was mindful of the rock-like strength of the Father who sent him, he had no doubt God was his fortress, his stronghold, his deliverer, a shield in whom he had absolute trust.

What about us? Do we have the absolute faith to rely on 5 small stones to vanquish a seemingly unbeatable foe? Who or what are the Goliaths we face in our time? We each have our answers to the question. Will we find the strength to carry smooth stones into battle against evil today or any other day?

Perhaps today is not that day, perhaps it is. In this moment, however, I am not feeling particularly brave but I am blessed to bless Him who is our refuge and our salvation. Perhaps the most any of can do is to move forward against the enemies of our faith with a small stones in our pocket in case we are called to do battle. Such faith is not easy but we have each other to share the journey.

One of the stones I carry is calling me to leadership. What will the stones you will be given to carry ask of you?