Sunday, February 22, 2004
(Tone Three)
Sunday of Forgiveness: of Cheesefare
Kellia: 1 Kings 24:1-25:1 LXX Epistle: Romans 13:11-14:4 Gospel: St. Matthew 6:14-21
1 Kings 24:1-25:1 LXX, especially vs. 17, "He said to David, "You are more
righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil." Over the years
during which David, the anointed son of Jesse, served in the court of King Saul, the initial
affection of the King for the young David turned into a poisonous suspicion and eventually a
homicidal jealousy. David fled to the wilderness for his life, and Saul gathered an army to search
out and destroy the young man. During this campaign, God protected David from harm and twice
provided Saul opportunities to repent and quit his efforts to kill David. Today's reading portrays
the first of these God-ordained occasions, and reveals David's great capacity for forgiveness.
The passage teaches us how to forgive so that we may ourselves be forgiven (Lk. 6:37).
Note how the hand of God brought the unsuspecting Saul into the very cave where David and his
men were hiding (1 Kngs. 24:3). The reality was not missed by David's men, for they said to
David, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your
hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you'" (vs. 4). Every reason to strike was
plainly and conveniently provided by the circumstances. No mention of forgiveness was
introduced. David recalled God's promise to deliver him from Saul, and the opportunity for self-defense was at hand. David was convinced to move up on his quarry "stealthily" (vs. 4).
Consider why David did not strike a fatal blow but elected instead to "cut off the skirt of Saul's
robe" (vs.4). In taking a piece of the King's robe, he revealed ambivalence in his own heart, his
desire to kill the King vs his reluctance to touch the anointed of God. His irresolute action forced
the truth on him: inwardly he had consented to kill Saul, but his "heart smote him" (vs. 5), both
for his agreement and for touching the person of the King. In this life there are always excuses,
opportunities, and reasons for not forgiving. Only a heart that is athirst for the living God
hesitates in time, and sometimes even the godly fall. Let us beware.
Writing later, David discloses how he may have been saved in this moment: "The Lord is nigh
unto them that are of a contrite heart, and He will save the humble of spirit" (Ps. 33:18 LXX).
He had a healthy heart. He was humble, contrite, and aware of his capacity to sin. Thus, his
spirit revolted at acquiescing to murder, and he hastened to keep his men from the same sin: "the
Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed" (1 Kngs. 24:6, 7).
Beloved, the image of Himself which our Lord and Savior instilled in us when He formed us in
the womb is present in every man, even the most reprobate. So listen to St. Nikolai of Zica: "no-one is certain that he will not, before his death, commit that very sin for which he has condemned
his brother....Therefore, my brothers, let us condemn no man, that we be not condemned."
Observe that David not only restrained his men, but "went out of the cave, and called after Saul"
(vs. 8). St. John Chrysostom wisely observes about forgiveness that "if one let go him that hath
been scourged and heal him not, he hath done nothing." Sooner or later Saul would have found
the damage to his robe and realized the assault against his person. Notice that David, bathed in
the forgiveness of God, having demonstrated his forgiveness of the King, also sought to extend
his own healing to his opponent as well (vs. 11). Forgiveness must extend beyond holding back
from revenge. Listen to the Apostle Paul, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives
himself....Let him who is taught the word share in all good things (Gal. 6:2, 3, 6).
O magnified Lord, let us condemn no man, that we be not condemned, but forgive us our sins and
fill us with that contrition which will lead us to forgive even as we have been forgiven.
