Stone Over Sword

The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line in the direction of the Philistine. David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. Thus, David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally and did it without a sword. Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath he dispatched him and cut off his head. (1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51)

The above passage is a legend most Catholics remember fondly.  The underdog wins.  The big bully falls and falls hard.  The sling-shot is more powerful that the sword.   The little man takes down the giant with God on his side.

David was quite the marksman – stone to forehead: a precise shot as opposed to a sword that doesn't have to precisely hit the mark.  Lot of room for error.   Precision is not that important.

This legend reminds us that in life we must take careful aim (planning) to achieve our objectives.  When we do, we can overcome great odds, like a stone overcoming the sword.

We take aim through our faith and prayer that act like David’s stone.  They represent planning and preparation to enlist God as the bag into which we put our hands.   We take out not real stones but strength and perseverance to face hardships and overcome difficulties – the Goliaths we must dispatch at close-quarters.

Deacon David Pierce