separateness and connectedness . . . 2nd week saturday

Today we start reading from the 2^nd book of Samuel.  It was reported to David that Saul and his sons died in battle.  It was reported by an Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul and reported it himself to David.  He even brought with him the king’s crown and his armlet thinking that David will reward him for killing Saul.  He thought it was happy news.  But David was overcome with grief and he tore his garments to mourn and he fasted.  Although Saul wanted to kill him, David had deep respect for the king and David remembers only the good things that Saul had done and his courage in battle.

In grief David composed an elegy and is said to be one of the most beautiful poems in the bible.  In this elegy he narrates the beautiful friendship that existed between him and Jonathan, the son of Saul.  Jonathan would have been the successor to the throne and yet he committed himself to the fact that his friend David would succeed his father’s throne rather than himself.

Our reading today reminds us of love and friendship.  Religious life should strike a balance between separateness and connectedness.  We cannot remain in the extreme of separateness where we cannot relate comfortably with others.  Yet we cannot go also to the extreme of connectedness where we are totally wrapped up with someone else.  Friendship strikes the balance between the two.  We need the benefits of good friends who can help to restore our sense of worth and of being loved and understood.  Like David may God give us good friends.