Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Walking with people in crisis is challenging and rewarding. It is a privilege to be on the holy ground in people’s lives and feel that one is making a difference. Somedays this journey can be especially tough as people are offered very limited options for their loved ones. These choices are often summed up in the three choices. One choice is to increase care, another is to continue the same level of care, and the third is to decrease the care being offered. This sounds like a straightforward choice until you realize the outcome of the care will likely be the same no matter what one chooses.
David must have struggled with his own self importance. Surely, King David knew God’s will for him and the people of Israel. There were times throughout King David’s reign that he simply chose to do what was good for David, as opposed to what God wanted or what was good for God’s people. Today’s first reading is one such example. David must have known down deep that his actions were selfish desires for power and control? The scripture implies this is the case. Even then, when the prophet offers him a choice of punishment to reconcile David with God he resists responsibility. David chooses the punishment that will leave him with the least personal suffering, although the choice is still the least worst of the three. Only through witnessing the great suffering of God’s people does David finally admit to the sinfulness of his actions.
The psalm today shares the lament of a person aware of their own sinfulness. The psalmist clearly acknowledges God’s mercy in return for being responsible for their own actions. These scriptures ask us to consider how we respond when the warning flags go off in our own minds? Sin, whether seen or heard, is still contrary to God’s desire for us. As the first reading illustrates, sin is not without consequences and its effects often go far beyond our self. Reflect on one tangible way to turn away from whatever leads to sin.
“Heavenly Father, You desire for us only what is right and true. Help us this day to make responsible choices so that the suffering in the world is not increased because of what we have done or failed to do. Amen!”
-Michael Montgomery