Breaking the Word

4^th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 29^th January 2024 – 2 Sam 15,13-14.30l 16,5-13; Mark 5,1-20

Example of Patient Forbearance

In the first reading, we hear about some of the difficulties King David experiences in his life, yet he trusts that God will be the shield around him. David’s inaction and lack of paternal discipline concerning his son, Absalom, opened up Absalom’s rebellion against his father David. When David heard about it, he fled to the Mount of Olives for his safety. While on his journey, David encounters Shimei, a member of Saul’s house, who curses David and blames him for Saul’s death. When Abishai wants to do away with Shimei, David chose to accept this trial and the discipline as coming from the Lord. David manifests true humility and patient forbearance. David, in the midst of threats on his life and curses against him, realizes that God is with him and will take care of him. In the first part of second Samuel, David triumphs, but after the sin with Bathsheba, and his murder of Uriah, David experiences suffering and threat, and accepts them as an effect of his sins. However, these situations made him humble in his old age and experienced forced exile from Jerusalem.

Week 3 of Ordinary Time, Saturday – 27^th January 2024 – 2 Sam 12,1-7.10-17; Mark 4,35-41

Condemning Others Mistakes

Today’s first reading presents to us the consequences of the terrible crimes of infidelity, deceit and murder that David committed when he had Uriah killed in order to have Bathsheba as his own. He thought he would escape notice or punishment when he must have silenced his inner voice, but he was deeply mistaken. Sometimes it takes a parable or story of other circumstances to confront an individual with the truth. Only when Nathan confronts him, does David realize the gravity of his sins. As Nathan relates the account of the wealthy and powerful individual taking advantage of his lowly neighbour, David sees the evil in the act performed. David condemns the person who would perpetrate such an act. Yet, it is not until Nathan points out that David himself is the sinner. In this encounter between Nathan and David, we find the most obvious human weakness: Easy to judge the mistake of others. Difficult to recognize one’s own. The sharpest critics and those most known for pointing out flaws or weaknesses in others, are most often the ones who are blind to their own shortcomings, insecurities and mistakes.