EULOGY

Sirach 47:2-11PS 18 BLessed be God my salvation; Mark 6:14-29

Today is the birthday of Charles Dickens, who in A Christmas Carol stated "There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” 


Laughter and good humor and I would add mercy.  Three elements that help lift us to the divine. 

Today is the first reading we encounter a Eulogy of sorts for King David.  Written some 700 years after his death the author remembers what made David so grand in the eyes and hearts of his nation, the kingdom of Israel. 

Three things are mentioned. 

He called upon the Most High God who gave him strength to defeat his enemies and to raise up the might of his people.  

Secondly, he had great concern for worship, "he set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies, adding beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year so that when the Holy Name was praised before day break the sanctuary would resound.

Thirdly, he sought God's mercy at every turn and lived life enveloped in God' s mercy.  He was forgiven and from this experience of mercy cam this strength. 

We could do well to imitate the life of David: seeking the strength of God daily that we might add strength and might to his people, adding beauty to worship by our participation and presence, and seeking God's mercy and letting it be the foundation of our life.