heads gonna roll

2 samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Psalm 3 Lord, rise up and save me; Mark 5:1-20

Today in the first reading we have David's son taking over. The children of Israel, the young generation, have given their loyalty to the son of the King rather than to the king himself.

So we have tension in this uprising. How will the King handle the uprising of the younger generation?

He decides to leave. Not only does he leave but he runs, "Up, let us take flight..."

Wow! This doesn't sound like a kingly thing to do. Normally, we are told to hold our ground, face our enemy head on, don't back down. Yet, this is the opposite demonstrated by David in the first reading.

He runs...

David does so it seems for a good reason. He wants to save the city from the "sword" but also he needs to by some time. He is simply creating space so that he can figure out his plan of action.

David's refuses to react to the news with his emotions but decides to respond, but in order to do so, he needs some space and time to get his head on straight. He steps back in order to figure out how to move forward.

While David is on the move, heart heavy with sorrow and eyes filled with tears, he meets a man, Shimei, who begins to insult him and throw stones at him.

David's companions wanted to fix the problem by eliminating the man, "let me go over and lop off his head."

There is a lot of lopping heads off in the OT.

David, again refuses to react to the situation with his emotions. Rather, he simply buys time and space. He sees past the accusations and acknowledges that perhaps this too shall be part of God's plan.

"Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. Perhaps, the lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curse he is uttering today...David and his men continued on the road. while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt a she went."

David refused to turn violent, he refused to react with his emotions, he chose to defend the life of the other even if he was being insulted and cursed by the other.

In the Words of St. Peter in the New Testament, 1 peter 3:9 ff, "Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult. Return a blessing instead. This you have been called to do, that you may receiving a blessing as your inheritance."

How do we handle our Shimei in our life?

Perhaps, David can show us the way. Perhaps we should be more kingly in our life with those who are anything but kingly.

Leave your sword in its sheath and remember heads don't have to roll.