David shows his knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures as he quotes from Proverbs, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ Hence, he also witnesses to his fidelity to the Covenant. The Lord will judge; the Lord will enact justice; you, Saul, are the Lord’s anointed. God chooses, and so as wicked comes forth from wickedness, so too, from the good come forth goodness. Scripture always presents choices to us. Choices between life or death, good or evil, and a life in abundance, blessings, or desolation.

Each of us are called in the context of living a vocation of life-giving grace and mercy. As Saul was the anointed one, we know, too that David will also be anointed king. He will be a great king out of whose lineage will come Jesus.

In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, we learn that we hear God’s call in the details or facts of our lives. We are invited to listen to God and be aware of God’s interventions in our lives through all we meet or encounter each day. Annunciations! God is present. Listen...

By way of Saul‘s and David’s encounter, they become aware of what is good, and trusts in God’s interventions. There is reconciliation.

Jesus invites 12 men to join him up a mountain and chooses them to carry out the mission of the Kingdom. Symbolically, ‘up the mountain’ is to go deeper into one’s sacred center to meet Jesus, to hear his voice and invitation. It is to go to a holy place. It is as St. Ignatius would label, the awareness of The Call of Christ the King.

These 12 are ordinary men who met Jesus through their encounters with him. They are not perfect. In fact, one will betray him and eventually one will deny knowing him..

We are all ordinary humans and God loves us in our brokenness and in our desire to grow in relationship with Jesus. We are invited to repair damaged relationships.   Our call or vocation is to live a Gospel life, the life that Jesus lived so all will know of God’s great love for humanity. We can do this! We can because from the very beginning God  promised, “I will be your God and you will be my people”. Believe it!  We can do this because of the promised fulfilled in Christ Jesus. We can do this because we experience the power and promise of God’s love and mercy for our self and for each of us. If not, I pray you will!

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy!
…for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings, I take refuge...
…I call to God the Most Hight, my benefactor…
May God send mercy and faithfulness. – from Psalm 57

Please take time to reflect on God’s mercy and love as experienced in your life.