3rd Week of Ordinary Time (Sat)1st Feb 2020

Theme: Let us grow in faith to experience the mercy of God in our lives.

Scripture: 2 Sam 12:1-7,10-17; Psalm 50:12-17; Mk. 4:35-41

We had seen David who lived a good life, failed his life at one particular moment. In the beginning, he did not accept his mistake so easily. He had become indifferent and senseless about his sinful act. But God took the initiatives to address to David. God chose Nathan to speak to David. Nathan shared a story of two men (rich and poor). Nathan focused on the sin of theft in his story. The rich man stole a lamb of poor man to prepare a meal for his way traveler. It was the most loved and only ewe lamb that he had. He treated it like his daughter. It was close to his heart. It is interesting to note here; Nathan had not asked David to pass any judgement on the rich man. But David jumped to conclusion. He got angry with the rich man. He wanted to punish him with the judgement of death. David was well versed with the scriptures. He also proposed restitution according to law of Moses to pay the poor man four fold. The scriptures said, if someone stole a lamb or killed it or sold it, then he was asked to give four sheep for a sheep and five oxen for an ox. (Ex 22:1)

Nathan took advantage of David’s intervention and made him realized that it was he acted like the rich man in the case of Uriah. David did not show any delay in repentance after the correction. He knew that he had sinned against Uriah, Bathsheba, her father and grandfather. Above all, he realized that he had sinned against God who was full of mercy and compassion. David repented over his sinfulness. He remained in the house of God for a week without food. He slept on the floor. This was the difference in Saul and David. God pardoned David because he showed great faith in His mercy.

We find in the Gospel, the disciples of Jesus were in the boat, battling with a heavy storm. Jesus appeared to be sleeping. The storm, the waves, the water, the work and hustles of disciples to row the boat to the shore did not wake him up. Perhaps Jesus was conducting an exam in the boat after teaching his disciples on the kingdom of God. The disciples failed to recall Jesus’ teaching. They failed to remember that Jesus had power to heal and save. They failed to realize that He was with them, there was nothing to fear. They failed to realize that Jesus cared for them but they questioned him. The disciples failed to show their faith in Jesus.

We must be definitely facing storms in our lives just like the David and the disciples. We need to trust in the merciful God that He is with us. When there is Jesus in our boat, we have nothing to fear. Like the Psalmist, we need to approach God with pure heart that believes in the mercy of God. David sinned against God but he believed in God’s mercy. He was saved. He never sinned again. The disciples failed in the boat to believe in Jesus although Jesus was with them. But later they proved that they were men of faith. Jesus is with us in our boat too. He has power to calm the storm in our lives. Do you believe in Him? May this Eucharist in which Jesus assures His presence in our lives help us to grow in His faith that he is truly merciful God.

Fr. Alex D’Mello