Presence in Persecution

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate living with compassion and mercy and no fear of others who may be jealous of a loving disposition that attracts friends.

A loving disposition that attracts friends.

The Reading from the First Book of Samuel presents Saul’s Jealousy and his Persecution of David.

* [18:6] Stringed instruments: perhaps a lute-like instrument with three strings; the Hebrew word, shalshim, perhaps related to the root shlsh (“three”), occurs only here in the Old Testament. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [19:4] Jonathan reminds Saul that David has served him loyally and done nothing to earn a traitor’s death. Cf. 24:18–20. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 56 proclaims a firm confidence in God and gives thanks for God’s gift of life.

* [Psalm 56] Beset physically (Ps 56:2–3) and psychologically (Ps 56:6–7), the psalmist maintains a firm confidence in God (Ps 56:5, 9–10). Nothing will prevent the psalmist from keeping the vow to give thanks for God’s gift of life (Ps 56:13). A refrain (Ps 56:5, 11–12) divides the Psalm in two equal parts. (Psalms, PSALM 56 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark proclaims the Mercy of Jesus that draws people to him.

* [3:7–19] This overview of the Galilean ministry manifests the power of Jesus to draw people to himself through his teaching and deeds of power. The crowds of Jews from many regions surround Jesus (Mk 3:7–12). This phenomenon prepares the way for creating a new people of Israel. The choice and mission of the Twelve is the prelude (Mk 3:13–19).

* [3:11–12] See note on Mk 1:24–25. (Mark, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Sara Schulte-Bukowinski comments that in Jesus, God demonstrates willingness to sacrifice reputation, and ultimately even life itself, to show the greatest mercy possible.

How do I live into mercy? Where do I cling to power, jealousy, or resentment? How do I, as a Christian, raise up the kind of leadership to which Jesus calls all of us? How do I provide a fair and honest critique of leadership that is incompatible with God’s vision? I have to pray and work with God to be freer of the things that can put a cap on mercy, first in my own heart. If I’m too worried about just protecting “me and my own,” if I’m too concerned about what other people will think, if I permit unjust rules (or even laws) to undermine my conscience, I will not be free enough for mercy. (Schulte-Bukowinski, n.d.)

Don Schwager “Faith works by love”, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The 'faith that works by love' (Galatians 5:6), is not the same faith that demons have. 'For the devils also believe and tremble' (James 2:19) but do they love? If they had not believed, they would not have said: 'You are the holy one of God' or 'You are the Son of God' (Mark 3:11-12; Luke 4:34,41). But if they had loved, they would not have said: 'What have we to do with you?' (Matthew 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28)" (excerpt from Letter 194, To Sixtus) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 3:7-12 declares we can help establish a culture that welcomes all human life in our homes and among our friends.

Everything you do matters! Every time you imitate Jesus by offering yourself for others, you become an instrument of his healing power. You welcome him into new situations every time you put your faith into action. So prepare a meal for someone who is bedridden, visit someone who is lonely, teach a child to read, or offer to pray with a parishioner. And expect beautiful things to happen because you are working side by side with the Lord!

“Blessed László, pray that I can become a vessel of Christ’s healing love!” (Meditation on Mark 3:7-12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the reading from 1 Samuel, Saul and David return from battle praising David who is accorded a greater victory than Saul, who senses he is being robbed of glory. Jonathan talks Saul, temporary, out of killing David. All the people flock to Jesus for healing and also including Gentiles. The unclean spirit proclaims “Son of God”. They declare the truth of Jesus' identity. That's why He warns the spirit not to make Him known so people will receive the Kingdom where they hear and observe God’s Law to the best possible degree. 

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, recalls that after receiving a threatening late-night phone call, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s was renewed through prayer and an experience of God’s presence and call.

It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once. I had reached the saturation point…. I was ready to give up…. I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing a coward…. And I got to the point that I couldn’t take it any longer…. With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud. The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory: “Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now, I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage. Now, I am afraid. And I can’t let the people see me like this because if they see me weak and losing my courage, they will begin to get weak. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.”

It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: “Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you. Even until the end of the world.” (Rohr, n.d.)

We confirm that the greatest gift is love as we attend to the Presence of the Spirit that calls us to be friend, leader, and healer in our family and beyond.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/3?7 

Meditation on Mark 3:7-12. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/22/1484856/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/18?6 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/19?4 

Psalms, PSALM 56 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/56?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/stand-and-i-will-be-with-you/ 

Schulte-Bukowinski, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-22-2026 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). All Pressed upon Jesus to Touch Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Working in Persecution

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the message of truth, love, and compassion from Christ is counter cultural and likely to draw us into persecution by the powers of the world.

Prayer and Persecution

In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, he denounces his persecutors.

* [20:7] You seduced me: Jeremiah accuses the Lord of having deceived him; cf. 15:18. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

 

Psalm 18 is a Royal Thanksgiving for Victory.

* [Psalm 18] A royal thanksgiving for a military victory, duplicated in 2 Sm 22. Thanksgiving Psalms are in essence reports of divine rescue. The Psalm has two parallel reports of rescue, the first told from a heavenly perspective (Ps 18:5–20), and the second from an earthly perspective (Ps 18:36–46). The first report adapts old mythic language of a cosmic battle between sea and rainstorm in order to depict God’s rescue of the Israelite king from his enemies. Each report has a short hymnic introduction (Ps 18:2–4, 32–36) and conclusion (Ps 18:21–31, 47–50). (Psalms, PSALM 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus  implores the Pharisees to believe the works.

* [10:34] This is a reference to the judges of Israel who, since they exercised the divine prerogative to judge (Dt 1:17), were called “gods”; cf. Ex 21:6, besides Ps 82:6 from which the quotation comes.

* [10:36] Consecrated: this may be a reference to the rededicated altar at the Hanukkah feast; see note on Jn 10:22. (John, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

George Butterfield comments that Jeremiah has a thing or two to say to those Prosperity Gospel preachers. Everything will be just rosy, if you trust in God.

Whenever I think of Jeremiah I am reminded of the prosperity Gospel. If you trust in God, you will be healthy and wealthy. Jeremiah trusted in God, and it got him nothing but misery. Of God, Jeremiah says, “he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” Jeremiah was found to be telling the truth. The nation fell to the Babylonians. Almost everyone but the poorest were carted off to Babylon. You would think that Jeremiah would be celebrated as a true prophet of the Lord. Well, against his advice, the people in the land fled to Egypt and forced Jeremiah to go with them. Eventually they couldn’t handle the truth, so they killed him. Healthy and wealthy? No – dead! (Butterfield, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The sacrifice of Christ,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Even though the man Christ Jesus, in the form of God together with the Father with whom He is one God, accepts our sacrifice, nonetheless He has chosen in the form of a servant to be the sacrifice rather than to accept it. Therefore, He is the priest Himself Who presents the offering, and He Himself is what is offered." (excerpt from City of God, 10,20) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 10:31-42 comments that we have our own plans and ideas for how life ought to be or how our prayers ought to be answered. And when those plans or ideas don’t come to fruition, it can cause us to stumble. Maybe it’s a job that falls through, a loved one who dies suddenly, or a relationship that begins to crumble. Despite all the good things we have received from our Father, doubt can creep in. We fail to see Jesus, who stands with us faithfully through the good and the bad.

But what if, in these moments, we paused and asked, “I know what I want in this situation, but how is God working here? Where is Jesus trying to meet me?” What if we asked the Lord to open our eyes and help us see his presence in all things and in all of our circumstances? When we let go of our tight grip on what we think God ought to be doing, we make room for his Spirit to surprise us and show us how he is already at work.

You can be confident that Jesus is with you and working in your life, even when you can’t see how. He is your rock and fortress (Psalm 18:3). Today, ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of renewed sight. Ask him to remove the blinders of your expectations. He will help you to see more clearly. And he will move you to rejoice in the ways he is already present and working.

“Lord, open my eyes to your works and your presence with me!” (Meditation on John 10:31-42, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the spiritual difficulty expressed by Jeremiah as he ponders that the consequence of attending to God’s Plan has brought him to calls for his death as a traitor. The dialogue of Jesus with the Pharisees reveals the difference between the prophet or hero “Son of God” and the metaphysical Son that Jesus declares for Himself. Friar Jude reminds us of the declaration of the Baptist that Jesus is the true “Lamb” and “servant” of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and podcaster Cassidy Hall who explores the desert as a metaphor for difficult times in our lives. Through desert experiences, we learn to care more deeply for ourselves and the world:  

The deserts are many. Chosen and unchosen desert encounters have opened me up to see and experience more room within myself for the whole world—to carry myself, the beloved, and the world with open hands; with compassionate, vulnerable, and tender acceptance. From here, I recognize my capacity for action in the world with deeper clarity about who I am and what I am to speak—or show up to….  

In the spaciousness of solitude, we open ourselves up to the truth of ourselves. We more deeply root, examine, shed, and soften. Even in the desert moments of daily life, we are invited into renewal, when the wonder of uncertainty meets a sacred pause amid a busy day. And almost always, the desert spaces are places and moments of paradox: knowing amid the unknowing, refreshment in the parched places, life amid death, fecundity in the barrenness, midnight blooming, and acceptance of seasons. (Rohr, n.d.)

When we encounter disappointment, confusion, and dismissal we are invited to seek the wisdom of the Spirit and continue to persevere in love as companions of Jesus.

References

Butterfield, G. (2025, April 11). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041125.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/20?10 

John, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?31 

Meditation on John 10:31-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/11/1245124/ 

Psalms, PSALM 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/18?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Deserts in Our Lives. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-deserts-in-our-lives/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Am the Son of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr11