
We are all children of God, our heavenly Father, so loved by Him, that we have been given many different gifts and talents to build His kingdom and to minister to our brethren. Why then should we be envious or jealous of others who may seem to have been given more? For envy and jealousy will only bring ruin to us.
We should simply cherish the fact that what has been given to us has been given according to our strengths, and specifically for our mission. In the Lord, our God, there is always more. And more indeed shall be given at the right time, according to His Word and will for us.
That said, sometimes we are given the gift of prophecy over someone. However, we should always discern if the Lord desires that the prophecy be made known now or later. Let us strive to be obedient to His Word and will for us, always discerning, discerning our actions through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Vincent, Deacon, Martyr pray for us…
________
First reading
1 Samuel 18:6-9,19:1-7
Saul’s envy and Jonathan’s loyal friendship
On their way back, as David was returning after killing the Philistine, the women came out to meet King Saul from all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing to the sound of tambourine and lyre and cries of joy; and as they danced the women sang:
‘Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.’
Saul was very angry; the incident was not to his liking. ‘They have given David the tens of thousands,’ he said ‘but me only the thousands; he has all but the kingship now.’ And Saul turned a jealous eye on David from that day forward.
Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants of his intention to kill David. Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, held David in great affection; and so Jonathan warned David; ‘My father Saul is looking for a way to kill you,’ he said ‘so be on your guard tomorrow morning; hide away in some secret place. Then I will go out and keep my father company in the fields where you are hiding, and will talk to my father about you; I will find out what the situation is and let you know.’
So Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father; he said, ‘Let not the king sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you, and what he has done has been greatly to your advantage. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it yourself and rejoiced; why then sin against innocent blood in killing David without cause?’ Saul was impressed by Jonathan’s words and took an oath, ‘As the Lord lives, I will not kill him.’ Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought him to Saul, and David attended on him as before.
________
Gospel
Mark 3:7-12
He warned them not to make him known as the Son of God
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him. From Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordania and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard of all he was doing came to him. And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed. For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he warned them strongly not to make him known.





