Friday, January 22, 2022

 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.