Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did in opposing the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”Did the LORD give such a command to Samuel to pass on to Saul? I don't think so. Readings like the one above stop me in my tracks in daily prayer. I ponder the words for a while and then move on, usually without further understanding than when I started out. Yes, I know the words form part of a story told by a human person or persons, who are not God, but still...
(1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23)
Later in the readings comes the passage from Luke telling of darkness over the land and Jesus' death on the cross, which provides little comfort, except for the account of Joseph of Arimathea's tender care for the body of Jesus.
Finally, consolation from the Collect of the Day:
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
