11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and likewise all the men who were with him. 12 They wailed and cried, and they fasted until evening for Sha’ul, for Y’honatan his son, for Adonai’s people and for the house of Isra’el; because they had fallen by the sword.
19 “Your glory, Isra’el, lies dead on your high places!
How the heroes have fallen!
23 Sha’ul and Y’honatan, loved and gracious while alive,
were not separated even in death;
they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 “Daughters of Isra’el, weep over Sha’ul!
He clothed you luxuriously in scarlet
and put gold jewelry on your clothing.
25 “How the heroes have fallen in the heat of battle,
Y’honatan killed on your high places!
26 I grieve for you, my brother Y’honatan,
you meant so much to me!
Your love for me was deeper
than the love of women.
27 How the heroes have fallen
and the weapons of war perished”
Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr (Optional Memorial)I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother! (2 Samuel 1:26)
Jonathan and David were best friends. They were closer, even, than brothers. So why did Jonathan remain with his father, Saul—David’s sworn enemy—and not join forces with David? Certainly, Jonathan must have wanted to be a good son. But was that really enough to justify joining the army dedicated to killing his best friend?
David and Jonathan took a natural liking to each other. They got along famously and had common views and a common heart for their people. Several times, they swore loyalty to each other before God (1 Samuel 20:8, 17, 42; 23:18). But Jonathan also knew that his father envied and wanted to kill David. The best way for Jonathan to ensure that his dear friend would be safe was to remain behind with his father.
Was this easy for Jonathan? Of course not! Not only was David dear to his heart, but Jonathan also saw David as the rightful king of Israel. So he chose to separate from David in order to protect him. Being a trusted leader in Saul’s army gave Jonathan inside information that he could pass on to David. Ultimately, this tactic cost Jonathan his life at the Battle of Gilboa. But in a sense, he had been giving up his life for his friend during the entire time of their separation. Like Jesus, Jonathan demonstrated self-giving love that put his friend above his own interests.
This is the face of love. This is the face of mercy, offered to us during this Year of Mercy. True friendship gives of itself for the other. In a world where we are encouraged to measure friendships based on what we get out of them, God wants us to look at our relationships in light of the sacrificial love shown by Jonathan, and more perfectly by Jesus. It’s not a matter of what we are getting out of our friendships; it’s a matter of what we are putting into them.
God isn’t asking you to be constantly sacrificing for your friends. He just wants you to make sure you’re giving as well as taking. He knows that this is the best way to deepen any friendship.
“Jesus, teach me to love in the same way that you love me. Open my eyes to the ways you are calling me to lay down my life for my friends.” Amen!
Psalm 80:2 (1) Shepherd of Isra’el, listen!
You who lead Yosef like a flock,
you whose throne is on the k’ruvim,
shine out!
3 (2) Before Efrayim, Binyamin and M’nasheh,
rouse your power; and come to save us.
5 (4) Adonai, God of armies, how long
will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
6 (5) You have fed them tears as their bread
and made them drink tears in abundance.
7 (6) You make our neighbors fight over us,
and our enemies mock us.
Mark 3:20 and once more, such a crowd came together that they couldn’t even eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they set out to take charge of him; for they said, “He’s out of his mind!”---------------------
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