Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr
(I Samuel 24:3-21; Mark 3:13-19)
In today’s first reading David refuses to
take advantage of the opportunity to kill his deadly rival, Saul. He recognizes that Saul is God’s anointed
with a charge to protect the people.
Saul is to be supported not undermined.
We too have been anointed. At Baptism the minister rubbed chrism, that
is perfumed and blessed oil, on our heads.
We share in Christ’s ministry of priest, prophet, and king. We too are mandated to protect God’s people.
The charge covers all people – born and
unborn. Tomorrow hundreds of thousands
of people – mostly baptized Christians -- will converge on Washington to
fulfill this duty. They will ask
America’s leaders to reconsider the lock on anti-abortion legislation. Their determination goes to the extent of making
considerable personal sacrifices. They
know that abortion is no less than annihilation of the most vulnerable of human
beings.
