Those who are far from the Lord or do not have the relationship that we have with Him will find it hard to understand why we would spend so much time either doing His Will for us by serving or constantly talking about Him and the wondrous deeds He has done in our lives.
I remember when I fell in love with Jesus by following after Him, my wife chided, “We use to talk about movies, travels, music anything and everything. Now it’s Jesus this and Jesus that, enough already.” “Also don’t you think you are spending too much time on church activities??!!” “Are you out of your mind?” She could not understand because at the time she was far from Jesus. She knew about Him but did share an intimate relationship with Him.
Fast forward about 11 years she was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for a while but is now serves as a Lector, secretary for the Ex-Co Committee in our Parish, Chair of Events Keystone and helps with the Catholic Prayer Group for working adults! Now she fully understands what it means to love and serve Him with all our strength, heart and mind!
Jesus the only thing I mourn are my many sins committed against You both of omission and commission. Keep my conscience and my heart tender for I long to grow in purity and love. Let Your Will be done in me now and forevermore. Amen
First reading
2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,17,19,23-27
David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan
David returned from his rout of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man came from the camp where Saul had been, his garments torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did homage. ‘Where do you come from?’ David asked him. ‘I have escaped from the Israelite camp’ he said. David said to him, ‘What happened? Tell me.’ He replied, ‘The people have fled from the battlefield and many of them have fallen. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.’
Then David took hold of his garments and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. They mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people of the Lord and for the House of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
Then David made this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.
Alas, the glory of Israel has been slain on your heights!
How did the heroes fall?
Saul and Jonathan, loved and lovely,
neither in life, nor in death, were divided.
Swifter than eagles were they,
stronger were they than lions.
O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul
who clothed you in scarlet and fine linen,
who set brooches of gold
on your garments.
How did the heroes fall
in the thick of the battle?
O Jonathan, in your death I am stricken,
I am desolate for you, Jonathan my brother.
Very dear to me you were,
your love to me more wonderful
than the love of a woman.
How did the heroes fall
and the battle armour fail?
Gospel
Mark 3:20-21
Jesus’ relatives were convinced he was out of his mind
Jesus went home, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.
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