Today’s Catholic Reflection
David returned to Ziklag after defeating the Amalekites. He learned of Saul's death from a man who escaped the battlefield. The messenger reported that many soldiers had fallen, including Saul and his son Jonathan. David and his men were overcome with grief. They mourned for Saul, Jonathan, and the fallen soldiers of Israel through fasting and lamentation. David honored them with a heartfelt elegy, remembering their bond and the loss felt by the nation.
The Responsorial Psalm seeks God's attention and help. It asks the Shepherd of Israel to shine forth and save His people. The psalmist voices the anguish of those who have suffered and faced mockery from their enemies. In the Gospel, Jesus and His disciples find themselves overwhelmed by a crowd, which makes it hard for them to eat. Hearing this, Jesus' relatives come to seize Him, thinking He is out of His mind.