Holy Spirit of God, keep me free from engaging malice and envy ...

 
1 Samuel 18:6-19:7
                                         
With one small, smooth, stone David effectively turned the tide in a year-long conflict. King Saul at first must have been overjoyed when his armies scored a decisive victory over the Philistines following Goliath’s death. But then with over-thinking Saul became caught up in jealousy and malicious ideation that took him far away from the joy and the peace of his people.  “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands” wormed its way so far into his conscience and thoughts that instead of forging an engaging alliance with David and moving on to govern Israel together through gracious times of peace and prosperity, Saul became consumed with revenge and spent his time and energy chasing fragments of hatred around the confines of his own mind and spirit. It took the truth of his son, Jonathan, who loved David for the lively and powerful person that he was, to break through the darkness at work in his father and call King Saul back to the sanity of reality, away from jealousy and vengeance, at least for a season. Will I believe and act out my own self-centred reflections or allow truth and mercy to inform my being? Holy Spirit of God, keep me free from engaging malice and envy. 
        
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.   (Proverbs 15:4)
 
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
St. Teresa of Calcutta  
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei