Prayer for the unity of Christians. Particular memory of the Orthodox Churches.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

1 Samuel 17,32-33.37.40-51

David said to Saul, 'Let no one be discouraged on his account; your servant will go and fight this Philistine.' Saul said to David, 'You cannot go and fight the Philistine; you are only a boy and he has been a warrior since his youth.' 'Yahweh,' David went on, 'who delivered me from the claws of lion and bear, will deliver me from the clutches of this Philistine.' Then Saul said to David, 'Go, and Yahweh be with you!' He took his stick in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the river bed and put them in his shepherd's bag, in his pouch; then, sling in hand, he walked towards the Philistine. The Philistine, preceded by his shield-bearer, came nearer and nearer to David. When the Philistine looked David up and down, what he saw filled him with scorn, because David was only a lad, with ruddy cheeks and an attractive appearance. The Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog for you to come after me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, 'Come over here and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the wild beasts!' David retorted to the Philistine, 'You come to me with sword, spear and scimitar, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh Sabaoth, God of the armies of Israel, whom you have challenged. Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand; I shall kill you, I shall cut off your head; today, I shall give your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the wild beasts, so that the whole world may know that there is a God in Israel, and this whole assembly know that Yahweh does not give victory by means of sword and spear -- for Yahweh is lord of the battle and he will deliver you into our power.' No sooner had the Philistine started forward to confront David than David darted out of the lines and ran to meet the Philistine. Putting his hand in his bag, he took out a stone, slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead; the stone penetrated his forehead and he fell face downwards on the ground. Thus David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; he hit the Philistine and killed him, though he had no sword in his hand. David ran and stood over the Philistine, seized his sword, pulled it from the scabbard, despatched him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Saul is unable to defend Israel from the Philistines. Goliath is the incarnation of the Philistine's threat against Israel. He is the archetypal warrior. Along with his terrible armour he uses arrogant words: he is daunting and self-confident. Israel is intimidated by him. But here is the young David, and enters the battlefield very eager to see battle. Everyone else is terrified, unable to think or speak. David, however, questions with confidence why the Philistine dares to challenge the armies of the living God. He is only a young man but he knows that the Lord watches over Israel. For him, it is unthinkable to enter battle without God. His question to Goliath, which seems naïve, actually is a clear rebuke of his brothers and of Saul. David knows that the Lord is with his people. David goes to Saul and speaks of his experience. He protected his flock from "lion and bears," and recognizes that the Lord is the one who protects from adversities. In this passage, no one else but David mentions God. He has no doubt in God's help. Saul is convinced and responds to David also with the courage to speak of God. Saul is convinced by David's words, answers him and has the courage to speak God's name as well. It is as if David gave Saul the courage and faith to speak again of the Lord. Saul wants David to imitate his behaviour and wear the military armour. But David refuses to be like Saul, like the nations, or like the Philistine, and proposes a radical alternative: only five smooth stones. And now they are in a face-off: military strength on the one side, weakness on the other; the giant and the boy; the one who trusts in himself and the other who trusts in God. David gives witness to God's strength, turning to the giant to say, "This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand."