When David received the report of the battlefield deaths of Saul and Jonathan, he expressed his sorrow and tribute by composing and chanting a lament, that beautiful elegy that is today's first reading. A line from an old spiritual comes to mind. "Little David, play on your harp." Yes, David, play and sing for us the lyrics that span the centuries. Sing the songs that help us express our mourning while celebrating the lives of those whose loss we mourn. Sing us the songs that sustain us when we are beset by ills and those that buoy us in the struggle for justice and peace. Give us the canticles to express praise and thanksgiving and the poetry of confession. David, take up your harp for us.

Think of David and what picture comes to mind? My guess is the picture inherited from early days in…