Daily Readings - Sun Feb 20 2022

²And Saul rose up, and he descended into the desert of Ziph, and with him three thousand elect men of Israel, so that he might seek David in the desert of Ziph⁷Therefore, David and Abishai went to the people by night, and they found Saul lying down and sleeping in the tent, with his spear fixed in the ground at his head. And Abner and the people were sleeping all around him⁸And Abishai said to David: "God has enclosed your enemy this day in your hands. Now therefore, I will pierce him with my lance, through to the ground, once, and there will not need to be a second.⁹And David said to Abishai: "You shall not kill him. For who may extend his hand against the Christ of the Lord, and yet be innocent?¹²And so, David took the spear, and the cup of water that was at Saul’s head, and they went away. And there was no one who saw it, or realized it, or awakened, but they were all sleeping. For a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen over them¹³And when David had crossed over to the opposite side, and had stood upon the top of the hill far away, so that there was a great interval between them²²And responding, David said: "Behold, the king’s spear. Let one of the servants of the king cross over and take it²³And the Lord will repay each one according to his justice and faith. For the Lord has delivered you this day into my hand, but I was not willing to extend my hand against the Christ of the Lord²⁴And just as your soul has been magnified this day in my eyes, so let my soul be magnified in the eyes of the Lord, and may he free me from all distress.²⁵Then Saul said to David: "You are blessed, my son David. And whatever you may do, it shall certainly succeed." And David departed on his way. And Saul returned to his place

1 Corinthians

Chapter 15

⁴⁵Just as it was written that the first man, Adam, was made with a living soul, so shall the last Adam be made with a spirit brought back to life⁴⁶So what is, at first, not spiritual, but animal, next becomes spiritual⁴⁷The first man, being earthly, was of the earth; the second man, being heavenly, will be of heaven⁴⁸Such things as are like the earth are earthly; and such things as are like the heavens are heavenly⁴⁹And so, just as we have carried the image of what is earthly, let us also carry the image of what is heavenly

Luke

Chapter 6

²⁷But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you²⁸Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who slander you²⁹And to him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your coat, do not withhold even your tunic³⁰But distribute to all who ask of you. And do not ask again of him who takes away what is yours³¹And exactly as you would want people to treat you, treat them also the same³²And if you love those who love you, what credit is due to you? For even sinners love those who love them³³And if you will do good to those who do good to you, what credit is due to you? Indeed, even sinners behave this way³⁴And if you will loan to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is due to you? For even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive the same in return³⁵So truly, love your enemies. Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked³⁶Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful³⁷Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven³⁸Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing, they will place upon your lap. Certainly, the same measure that you use to measure out, will be used to measure back to you again.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on mercy, compassion, and the transformative power of living as children of God. The first reading from 1 Samuel 26 recounts David's decision to spare Saul's life, despite having the perfect opportunity to end the pursuit. This act of mercy is rooted in David's deep respect for Saul as God's anointed and his trust in divine justice. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 15 contrasts Adam, the earthly man, with Christ, the heavenly one, highlighting the spiritual transformation we undergo through Christ. The Gospel from Luke 6 captures Jesus' teachings on the mount, urging us to love our enemies, be merciful, and live by the golden rule. These readings interweave a common theme of transcending human instincts to embody God's nature. David's mercy, Paul's emphasis on spiritual transformation, and Jesus' call to love all reflect a higher standard of living. They remind us that our actions should mirror God's compassion and justice, trusting in His plan rather than our own desires for revenge or retribution. In our daily lives, these teachings challenge us to forgive, to seek good for all, and to trust in God's providence. Let us strive to live as children of God, reflecting His mercy and love in our interactions. By doing so, we not only transform our own lives but also become instruments of God's grace in the world around us.