Article Outline:
Our name comes from the most well-known underdog story of all time—David facing down Goliath.
When young David entered the valley, he knew two things:
What did David take with him into battle? Confidence in his God, a sling, and five smooth stones.
This Bible passage is a constant source of inspiration and consolation for our team. We encourage each new employee to pray lectio divina with our founding Scripture to hear what the Lord has to say to them through this story, and our existing employees continue to find new depth each time they pray with it. We would like to invite you into this same experience.
Let’s pause for a moment to pray through the Scripture together.
Saul and the Israelites rallied and camped in the valley of the Elah, drawing up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines were stationed on one hill and the Israelites on an opposite hill, with a valley between them.
A champion named Goliath of Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel: “Choose one of your men, and have him come down to me. If he beats me in combat and kills me, we will be your vassals; but if I beat him and kill him, you shall be our vassals and serve us.” When Saul and all Israel heard this challenge of the Philistine, they were stunned and terrified.
David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah who had eight sons. David was the youngest. While the three oldest had joined Saul, David would come and go from Saul’s presence to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
David now said to the men standing near him: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should insult the armies of the living God?” The words that David had spoken were overheard and reported to Saul, who sent for him.
Then David spoke to Saul: “My lord should not lose heart. Let your servant go and fight this Philistine.
But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.”
Then David told Saul: “Your servant used to tend his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or bear came to carry off a sheep from the flock, I would chase after it, attack it, and snatch the prey from its mouth. If it attacked me, I would seize it by the throat, strike it, and kill it. Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of them, because he has insulted the armies of the living God.”
David continued: “The same Lord who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul answered David, “Go! the Lord will be with you.”
Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag. With his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.
With his shield-bearer marching before him, the Philistine advanced closer and closer to David. He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods and said to him, “Come here to me, and I will feed your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”
David answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts. For the battle belongs to the Lord, who shall deliver you into our hands.”
The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet 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 on his face to the ground.
Thus David triumphed over the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine dead, and did it without a sword in his hand.
We’ve seen countless Catholic leaders live out their own version of this story. They might be on different battlefields or facing different giants, but every “David” faces obstacles as they pursue their call.
The good news is that these leaders also have something else in common with David from the Bible: they rely on the same God, who never fails to equip his people for the mission he’s given them.
Whatever you’re up against, remember you don’t have to confront Goliath alone.
Our apostolate is built to be an extension of your team so you can respond wholeheartedly to the incredible calling God has placed on your life. We’ve had the honor of walking alongside both leaders of well-known apostolates and smaller ministries as they pursued the Lord’s will.
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Get in touch with our team today to talk about what you’re up against. We’re here to support you in pursuing all that God has in store.
