Mercy and mission

Homily for the Second Friday of Ordinary Time

1 Samuel 24:3-21
Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
Mark 3:13-19

Today the Church celebrates two saints - Saint Vincent, a deacon who was martyred in Rome during the persecutions, and Saint Marianne Cope, who served a community of people suffering from leprosy on the island of Moloka’i. Providentially, the readings for today invite us to meditate on mercy and mission.

David has an opportunity to end his troubles once and for all, for Saul has been delivered directly into his hands. One quick act and it would be over. He does not, instead showing mercy to his opponent who later acknowledges this as the hallmark of a true king.

In the Gospel, our Lord calls his apostles - those who are to be sent, which is what apostle means. The same word gives us postal and post office. Discipleship is certainly, in one sense, something that is focused on the self. Only my sins will keep me out of heaven, and I need to work out my salvation and relationship with Christ as best I can. But it is also, by necessity, something that takes place in community. Our task is to take the graces we receive in here and bring them to others out there, and demonstrating mercy can be one of the ways - maybe the chief way - we can do this. It will be imperfect mercy. We will fall short, often. But even so, others will see, wonder, and ask, and so we bring them to Christ.

St. Vincent, deacon and martyr, pray for us.
St. Marianne Cope, pray for us.