The themes for this Sunday's readings - the mercy of God, forgiveness and the cost of being judgemental - all lead to the overriding call of Jesus: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute and mistreat you". This puts before us what could be the biggest and most difficult challenge of Christian life and Christian teaching: Our ability to let go and move on despite all the things that have
been done to us.
In the first reading, we have King Saul hunting David. David became so popular after slaying Goliath that Saul realised that the people were encouraging David. They were intrigued by this young boy. As a result, Saul wants to kill David. He's hunting David. David knows this and flees. But then David has the opportunity to kill Saul. He has the chance to get rid of this man that will, when he finds
him, get rid of him. But David doesn't do that. Instead, David chooses to show mercy.
Did David do the right thing? Yes. David didn't kill Saul. But notice the motives of David, they weren't really about forgiveness, and this is the qualitative difference between what we hear in that first reading and what Jesus says in the Gospel. David doesn't kill Saul because, first of all, he is afraid of God's anger. And secondly, David believes that God appoints the king, and therefore there's
no way he could kill the king. So he chooses the right thing to do, but not necessarily because he is forgiving.
Jesus wants us to be like David, to show mercy to those who would harm us. But we know that we are more like Saul because we are sinful and proud.
We are invited to ask ourselves: Where am I now?
Is there some part or place in me that is hurting or in pain because I feel wronged? It isn't straightforward, though. Perhaps a part of me seeks revenge or wants to retaliate for something that has happened to me. On the other hand, maybe I am right and justified in feeling wronged because I was wronged, and it was not my fault.
Am I going to hang onto this hurt, this need for revenge and retaliation? Do I want to live with the pain and risk becoming bitter and twisted, or do I want to move on and set myself free?
Put another way - what will the trajectory of my life be if I hang on to hurt and the need for revenge? How will that lead me to live the fullness of life? Or will it simply take me down the road to bitterness, depression, and becoming twisted and negative?
Where am I now?
