The first reading is a rather moving scene where the great David is at war with King Saul… Saul, insane with jealousy for his once favourite warrior, has persistently tried to kill David….. I have always had a soft spot for this whole part of the bible…. Poor King saul…. It is the epitomy of a type of ‘love/hate relationship’ …. Saul gets jealous of david and tries to kill him… then he realizes his sin and is terribly repentant and david and he reconcile…. And then saul gets jealous again… and tries to kill him.. and then he repents and they make up…. But then, saul gets insanely jealous again and tries to kill david … and on and on and on…… It is a testament to the ambivalence that can affect so many people’s lives.,.,.. life is clearly not just full of those who love .. and those who hate… it is also full of people who are caught halfway between … in a state of ambiguity…. And tension…… which can be torture for all involved…..
The first reading makes it clear that God values mercy and the preservation of life over and above retribution…..
Recently on the occasion of the ‘world congress on the death penalty held in
"Public opinion has become sensitized and has expressed its concern for a more effective recognition of the inalienable dignity of human beings, and of the universality and integrity of human rights, beginning with the right to life.
"The Holy See takes this opportunity to welcome and affirm once more its support for all initiatives that aim to defend the inherent value and inviolability of all human life, from conception to natural end."
The statement continued: "In this perspective, it is worth noting that the use of the death penalty is not just a negation of the right to life, but also an affront to human dignity." Difficult to justify
Though the Church "continues to maintain that the legitimate authorities of state have the duty to protect society from aggressors," the declaration explained that in the modern world, the death penalty is difficult to justify.
States now have new ways "of preserving public order and people's safety," which include "offering the accused stimuli and encouragement" to mend their ways, the Holy See continued.
It added that non-lethal means of prevention and punishment "correspond better to ... the common good and conform more to the dignity of the human person."
"Any decision to use the death penalty involves many dangers," such as "that of punishing the innocent, and the temptation to foment violent forms of revenge rather than true social justice," the declaration said.
It is also, the Holy See continued, "a clear offense against the inviolability of human life ... and, for Christians, an affront to the evangelical teaching of forgiveness."
The Holy See reiterated its appreciation to the organizers of the congress, to governments, and to everyone who works "to abolish the death penalty or to impose a universal moratorium on its use."
This weekend’s gospel is also rather special too….. it is a reminder how counter-cultural the invitation to follow Jesus’ good news really is.
I find this gospel really challenging… if we think about it… how often do we respond based on how others respond to us……
Someone is nice to me, so I am nice back…
Someone is rude and hurtful to me and they get the same back….
Those who affirm and respond to us…. We affirm and respond to them…
Interestingly…. Challengingly…. This is not the way Jesus is inviting his disciples to think……..
He is challenging us to go into any situation, the way st francis so wonderfully summed up…
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
so……..
this is very much ‘the road less travelled’…….. asking us to draw out of our internal well -- graciousness, even in the face of dryness…--
to say that this is not easy is an understatement…….. but it is brilliant… Jesus is wanting to break and smash the old system of ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours…’ which is great if you are in the circle of benefit…. But for those on the outer… there is nothing ……… ‘you have nothing to benefit me so.. you are out…..’ in Jesus ‘world-vision’.. it’s a case of ‘don’t ask what you can do for me.. rather.. what can I do for you….’
It feels like a radical way of living, doesn’t it, not expecting any payoff from out encounters with each other… but rather making it all about ‘giving graciousness to others no matter what the response….. and if we get anything in return, that is pure bonus…
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