Second Friday in Ordinary Time
23 January 2026
Authority that waits
As we come to the end of this week,
the Scriptures bring us to a quiet but decisive moment
—one that reveals what true authority looks like
when it is shaped by God
rather than by fear or ambition.
In the first reading,
David has every reason to seize power.
Saul has been hunting him relentlessly.
David has already been anointed king.
The future is clear
but the present is dangerous.
And now the opportunity presents itself.
Saul enters the cave where David and his men are hiding, completely vulnerable.
David’s companions see it as a gift from God.
This is the moment.
This is how kings are made.
But David does something unexpected.
He refuses to strike Saul.
He even restrains his men from doing so.
Instead of grasping power, he chooses reverence.
He recognizes that Saul,
for all his failures,
still holds an authority given by God.
David understands something crucial:
the kingdom cannot be built on violence, resentment, or self-justification.
Even cutting the corner of Saul’s cloak troubles David’s conscience.
That detail tells us that David’s heart is being formed.
He is learning that how one comes into power matters just as much as having it.
God’s kingdom is not advanced by shortcuts.
David does not deny that Saul is wrong.
He does not pretend the situation is just.
But he refuses to let injustice turn him into something he is not meant to be.
He entrusts judgment to God.
And in that restraint,
Saul finally sees the truth.
For a moment,
his heart is pierced.
He recognizes David’s righteousness
—not because David defeated him,
but because David spared him.
The Gospel shows us the other side of that same truth.
Jesus goes up the mountain
and calls those whom He wanted.
That line is simple,
but it is loaded with meaning.
Before there is mission,
before preaching, before authority,
there is relationship.
Mark tells us that Jesus appoints the Twelve for two reasons:
to be with Him, and to be sent out.
Notice the order.
They are not chosen because they are impressive.
They are not chosen because they are reliable.
One of them will betray Him.
Others will flee.
But Jesus does not build His community around perfection.
He builds it around presence.
Authority in the Kingdom of God flows from being with Jesus.
That is the connection between these two readings.
David refuses to take authority prematurely.
The apostles receive authority
only after being called into relationship.
In both cases,
power is not seized
—it is given and it is received.
This is the lesson the Church is placing before us as the week ends.
We live in a world that prizes control.
We are taught to secure our position,
defend our image,
and take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
But God’s way is different.
God forms leaders by shaping hearts first.
David learns to trust God’s timing.
The apostles learn to trust Jesus’ presence.
And we are invited to the same posture.
There are moments in our lives when we are tempted to force outcomes
—to prove ourselves right,
to assert control,
to protect our own interests.
These readings ask us to pause and consider a deeper question: Are we acting out of fear, or out of faith?
David waits.
Jesus calls.
Neither rushes. Neither compromises.
Neither builds the future on resentment or ambition.
As this week closes, the Scriptures invite us to examine how we understand authority in our own lives—authority over our decisions, our relationships, our responses to conflict.
God’s kingdom grows not through domination, but through fidelity. Not through force, but through trust.
David leaves the cave without a crown—but with a formed heart.
The apostles leave the mountain without understanding—but with a calling.
And that is how God still works: shaping His people quietly, patiently, and faithfully—until we are ready to be sent.