Saul rose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. So David and Abishai went to the army by night; there Saul lay sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him.
Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand today; now therefore let me pin him to the ground with one stroke of the spear; I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” So David took the spear that was at Saul’s head and the water jar, and they went away. No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on top of a hill far away, with a great distance between them. David replied, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards everyone for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand today; now therefore let me pin him to the ground with one stroke of the spear; I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” So David took the spear that was at Saul’s head and the water jar, and they went away. No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on top of a hill far away, with a great distance between them. David replied, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards everyone for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
Second reading 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
It is written, “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Jesus said to his disciples, “I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged;do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged;do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
Reflection
By Grace B. Madriñan
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” - Luke 6:27
I am generally a composed person, often forgiving and trusting. I hold my temper quite well and am not angered easily by small stuff. As they usually say, “walang masamang tinapay sa akin” (there is no stale bread for me). I can withstand almost anybody.
But my patience was tested big time 5 years ago when my lessee took advantage of my considerate nature. She violated our contract and failed to pay her due rent for 7 months. When I asked her to leave due to non-payment, she would not budge and even threatened to sue me for harassment. I even reported her for community trial and yet every word she promised in oath, she did not follow. The only way left was to sue her but I know how expensive and inconvenient it would be. I admit I almost gave in to the offer of a friend who knew some authorities who could “persuade” them to leave. But I backed out last minute as I knew it is not humane to use force.
I cannot describe enough the torment I endured during the process. I cried and prayed almost every night thinking of a decent way to recover my home from an unwanted occupant. While I lost money due to non-payment from lessee, I still helped her to find a new apartment to lease. I even paid for the apartment’s down payment just to make her move out. Since I know now that my lessee cannot be trusted easily, I asked help from another neighbor (whom the lessee also owes money) to supervise her move out of the property. In return, I will pay her the amount that the lessee owes her. I no longer care how much money I lost. Thank God after almost a year, the ordeal was over. I recovered my home.
God has been gracious to me, He sustained me through it all. Looking back, I think I have forgiven her. I pity her more than be angered by what happened. I have learned a lot of things from the experience. It taught me to be braver, firmer, and faithful. God rewarded my perseverance and everything I lost, He returned multiple times and running over. I do not feel any financial burden or at least I don’t worry about it enough. Truly, God delivers.
I am generally a composed person, often forgiving and trusting. I hold my temper quite well and am not angered easily by small stuff. As they usually say, “walang masamang tinapay sa akin” (there is no stale bread for me). I can withstand almost anybody.
But my patience was tested big time 5 years ago when my lessee took advantage of my considerate nature. She violated our contract and failed to pay her due rent for 7 months. When I asked her to leave due to non-payment, she would not budge and even threatened to sue me for harassment. I even reported her for community trial and yet every word she promised in oath, she did not follow. The only way left was to sue her but I know how expensive and inconvenient it would be. I admit I almost gave in to the offer of a friend who knew some authorities who could “persuade” them to leave. But I backed out last minute as I knew it is not humane to use force.
I cannot describe enough the torment I endured during the process. I cried and prayed almost every night thinking of a decent way to recover my home from an unwanted occupant. While I lost money due to non-payment from lessee, I still helped her to find a new apartment to lease. I even paid for the apartment’s down payment just to make her move out. Since I know now that my lessee cannot be trusted easily, I asked help from another neighbor (whom the lessee also owes money) to supervise her move out of the property. In return, I will pay her the amount that the lessee owes her. I no longer care how much money I lost. Thank God after almost a year, the ordeal was over. I recovered my home.
God has been gracious to me, He sustained me through it all. Looking back, I think I have forgiven her. I pity her more than be angered by what happened. I have learned a lot of things from the experience. It taught me to be braver, firmer, and faithful. God rewarded my perseverance and everything I lost, He returned multiple times and running over. I do not feel any financial burden or at least I don’t worry about it enough. Truly, God delivers.
Prayer
Father, may we continue to follow Your will despite the temptation to take revenge in the midst of injustice. Teach us humility and patience knowing that You will deliver us from evil and never forsake us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Father, may we continue to follow Your will despite the temptation to take revenge in the midst of injustice. Teach us humility and patience knowing that You will deliver us from evil and never forsake us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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