We hear our continuing story from the first book of Samuel today. In today’s reading, David has the opportunity to kill King Saul, his nemesis, as Saul enters the cave where David is hiding. Saul is intent on killing David himself when he enters that cave, as he sees David as his rival. The mercy that David showed Saul when he had the chance to kill him is remarkable, a contrast to the revenge, vengeance, and vitriol we have seen in society in recent years, especially in the realm of politics and social media. So many in our modern world today would not have the discipline or compassion to show the restraint that David showed in cutting off the end of Saul's garment and then pointing out to Saul that he could have easily killed him. Even if David had not confronted Saul and had simply allowed him to walk out of the cave unharmed without saying anything, God would have known the truth. In the end, it is the Lord who judges us, who knows our motives and our desires. It is easy to show kindness to our friends, family members, loved ones, and those who are kind to us, to pray for them, but not so easy toward our enemies.
Marianne Cope was the oldest of 10 children. She was born in Germany in 1838 and was brought to New York state as a baby by her parents. Her parents struggled in the US, so Marianne quit school after 8th grade to work in a factory to help her family. Despite the challenges she faced, she entered religious life in 1862 as a Franciscan sister. She taught in German-speaking Catholic grade schools and became a school principal. Later, she and her order opened some of the first hospitals in that area of New York state. When she was the superior general of her order, she was asked to send some of the sisters to serve in ministry in Hawaii with the lepers. Not only did she send 6 sisters, but she went herself.
Sister Marianne and her Franciscans sisters worked in two hospitals, they opened a home for the daughters of lepers and a home for women and girls on the island of Molokai when Father Damien was living out his last days after coming down with leprosy himself from his ministry with the lepers. Sister Marianne nursed Father Damien in his last dying days. She and the Franciscan sisters continued Father Damien’s ministry on Molokai. She stayed on that island 30 years until her death in 1918. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, three years after Father Damien was canonized. Sister Marianne’s life and ministry stand as a testimony of faith for all of us. May we unite our prayers with her prayers today.
No comments:
Post a Comment