The Word Among Us: The Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Saturday, January 30, 2016

The Word Among Us: The Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Saturday, January 30, 2016

Meditation: 2 Samuel 12:1 Adonai sent Natan to David. He came and said to him, “In a certain city there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had vast flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing, except for one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared. It had grown up with him and his children; it ate from his plate, drank from his cup, lay on his chest — it was like a daughter to him. 4 One day a traveler visited the rich man, and instead of picking an animal from his own flock or herd to cook for his visitor, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to him.”

5 David exploded with anger against the man and said to Natan, “As Adonai lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 For doing such a thing, he has to pay back four times the value of the lamb — and also because he had no pity.”

7 Natan said to David, “You are the man.

“Here is what Adonai, the God of Isra’el says: ‘I anointed you king over Isra’el. I rescued you from the power of Sha’ul.

10 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house — because you have shown contempt for me and taken the wife of Uriyah the Hitti as your own wife.’ 11 Here is what Adonai says: ‘I will generate evil against you out of your own household. I will take your wives before your very eyes and give them to your neighbor; he will go to bed with your wives, and everyone will know about it. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this before all Isra’el in broad daylight.’”

13 David said to Natan, “I have sinned against Adonai.”

Natan said to David, “Adonai also has taken away your sin. You will not die. 14 However, because by this act you have so greatly blasphemed Adonai, the child born to you must die.” 15 Then Natan returned to his house.

Adonai struck the child that Uriyah’s wife had borne to David, and it became very ill. 16 David prayed to God on behalf of the child; David fasted, then came and lay all night on the ground. 17 The court officials got up and stood next to him trying to get him off the ground, but he refused, and he wouldn’t eat food with them.

Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Lord has . . . forgiven your sin. (2 Samuel 12:13)
What a storm David had unleashed! When he first glimpsed Bathsheba, he probably didn’t anticipate the turbulent seas that would erupt around him. But as the days and weeks progressed, the consequences of his sin grew, and David ended up in over his head. First, he committed adultery and took Bathsheba to live as his wife, betraying her marriage. Then, he compounded the sin by trying to deceive Uriah. When that didn’t work, he arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle.
After all this, God sent his prophet Nathan to David. God’s words, spoken through Nathan, cut through David’s foggy conscience and led him to repentance. Yes, there were serious consequences to David’s actions. Yes, many people were hurt. Yes, it probably took a long time for healing. But God did forgive David. No matter how terrible the situation, God didn’t turn his back on him.
We may find ourselves in our own tempest. Our sin may seem so overpowering, and its consequences may make us feel trapped. Maybe we have hurt people and can’t find a way out. Maybe we have compounded the matter with lies and evasions. But just as Jesus spoke words to calm the storm and just as God spoke to David through Nathan, he speaks to us. He wants us to turn to him. He promises that he will forgive us. His mercy is available to us, even when there is significant fallout from our actions. Perhaps it will take a while for relationships to heal or trust to be regained. But God will give us the grace to see it through.
If you are in a tough situation, why not bring it to the Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? It’s a wonderful place to hear him speak to you: “I absolve you of your sins; go in peace.” You always have the chance to acknowledge what you have done, to receive his mercy, and to start again. And when you are forgiven, you are also strengthened to restore what you have injured.
“Lord, sometimes I feel as if I’m in a boat being swamped by violent waves. Bring stillness to my troubled heart and restore me. Jesus, I believe in your mercy. Help my unbelief!” Amen!
Psalm 51:12 (10) Create in me a clean heart, God;

renew in me a resolute spirit.

13 (11) Don’t thrust me away from your presence,

don’t take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.

14 (12) Restore my joy in your salvation,

and let a willing spirit uphold me.

15 (13) Then I will teach the wicked your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

16 (14) Rescue me from the guilt of shedding blood,

God, God of my salvation!

Then my tongue will sing

about your righteousness —

17 (15) Adonai, open my lips;

then my mouth will praise you.

Mark 4:35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
---------------------