Have Mercy On Me God"
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading for today from the 2 Book of Samuel is inextricably linked with Psalm 51, the responsorial psalm for today. In today's first reading, King David not only lusts after Bathsheba, but he committed adultery with her, since she was married to Uriah. Eventually, as we see by the end of the text, David has Uriah sent to the front lines to be killed in battle. This amounts basically to collusion in murder. In Acts 13:21-22 we read that David was a man after God's own heart. In light of today's reading, we might justifiably ask, in what way is David a man after God's own heart? He commits adultery with Bathsheba and then has her husband killed. How does this reflect God's heart?
The answer to that question is found in today's responsorial psalm, but in order to understand the context, it is helpful to read the next chapter in 2 Samuel, chapter 12, where, immediately following the incident from today's reading in chapter 11, Nathan the prophet approaches David and tells him a parable. After Nathan finishes the parable about a wicked man, David says in anger, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death!" (12:5). Without missing a beat, Nathan responds to his king: "You are the man!" (12:7).
How should a king respond to such an accusation? Many, perhaps most, would cry out, "Off with Nathan's head!" David's response is, "I have sinned against the Lord" (12:13). And then, as the Hebrew heading to today's responsorial psalm informs us (51:1-2), David composed Psalm 51 in his remorse.
Psalm 51 is the biblical passage that occurs most frequently in the liturgical cycle of readings, if we include the Liturgy of the Hours, and, indeed, is prayed every Friday morning as the first psalm in morning prayer. It is arguably the most moving hymn of repentence ever written by human hands. In the translation used for the Divine Office, David begins:
"Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offense. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin....my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done" (51:3-6). As today's responsorial psalm indicates, even though it only provides a small portion of the entire psalm, David's prayer moves from his confession of sin to asking God for assistance, and finally to praise of God and to a pledge to reform his life: "Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you....O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise" (51:14-15, 17).
I want to encourage you to read over this moving prayer frequently. It is a fantastic prayer with which to end a daily examination of conscience. Examining our conscience on a daily basis can help us to reflect on ways in which we need to rely upon God to improve our own lives. Maybe we haven't committed adultery or murder, but surely there are sins in our own life that need taking care of. Let's take them to God. I want to encourage you to read over Psalm 51 in its entirety, and pray it to God. It is a powerful prayer than can have a truly transforming effect on your life, when prayed sincerely.
Jeff Morrow