Out of the Wicked Comes Wickedness.

"And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, 'You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil... in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day." 1 Samuel 24:16-19. 

Saul came out in search of David with three thousand men. In other words, Saul was willing to use the entire army of Israel to destroy just one small boy; David. By this very act, it was clear that Saul wanted David dead by all means.

If God be on our side, who can be against us? I say: Nobody. Who can battle with the Lord? Unknown to Saul the very cave where he went to answer the call of nature was the same cave where David and his men were hiding.

This is what I call DIVINE PROTECTION. Without any guns or weapons, God simply put the one who declared himself an enemy in the hands of the innocent David. God's protection is stronger, better and more sophisticated than the best protection the world can ever offer.

Nonetheless, even when David was given the "opportunity" to just finish off Saul, he showed the depth of his inner purity by refraining from serving evil in return for evil. According to David, "Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness." In other words, by striking Saul (even when that seems to the most reasonable option), it would be clear that David is no better off than Saul.

Dear friends, the greatest test of a righteous person is what he or she does when provoked, when given the chance to revenge or when alone. Mother Theresa would tell us: "Be nice to people, not because they deserve it but because of who you are."

Discipleship begins with mentorship. As our Gospel passage today recants, Jesus appointed twelve, "to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons." The part we easily skip is the "BE WITH HIM" aspect. As children of God, if we don't spend time with God alone daily studying the Bible and praying, we become weak creatures.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I please you only. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Friday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time: Bible Study: 1 Samuel 24:2-20 and Mark 3:13-19).

Fr. Abu.