David Faces Reality

~~~ 2 Samuel 12:1-7A, 10-17 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~

~~~ Mark 4:35-41 ~~~

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

The readings today are a precursor to our
time of repentance...Lent.

Ash Wednesday is little more than a week away.

During lent we are reminded about our own sinfulness...
we are reminded that God has command over life and death...
even over the wind and sea. 

God did show great forgiveness toward David,
but David also had to suffer for his hideous decisions.
David experienced our all powerful God.

David saw the results of his lust and adultery...
the death of his child.
This loss of this innocent life brought
David to the ground. 

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

God has unlimited power and mercy.
It is through our faith that we are led to trust him.

David ruled with ruthless violence, not only against his enemies,
but with his own soldiers.

In reality how can we expect God
to deal with us in any manner other than the way
 we have dealt with others?

The difference is that we are clueless
to the love God has for us.

We are also clueless to God's immense power and justice.

David was caught in a violent
storm that he himself caused by his sins.
Sin eventually has repercussions for our soul.

Crushed by the truth of his sinfulness David
faces reality fasting and clothed in sackcloth.

Jesus can calm the storms of our life...
He can speak the words...
 “Quiet! Be still!”

These three words can create peace
 in your soul...in your life.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.

A willing spirit is our ticket to salvation joy.

Blessings in the storms of life.
~~~Peace~~~

Mercy in the Middle

~~~ 2 Samuel 11:1-4A, 5-10A, 13-17 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~

~~~ Mark 4:26-34 ~~~

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Psalm 51, about the mercy of God, 

comes between two seemingly disconnected readings.

From the second book of Samuel we hear of King David's

disgusting sin against another man's wife.

Only to be followed by the plot to make sure 

her husband is killed in battle.

David found himself caught in the web of his sins.

Each sin he committed led him deeper into another sin.

Our sins are life stepping stones into the darkness.

The power of David's position deceived him 

into believing that he had the mandate

 to act in a self serving manner.

We finish this reading to immediately

be in the midst of God's mercy.

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

God did not approve of David's sinful path,

but his mercy is always present for us to seek

just as it was for David.

This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Evidence of God's mercy is present in this Gospel too.

Just as the seeds are sown and forgotten.

We go about day in and day out not 

consciously aware of God's mercy available to us.

God's mercy is always extended out to us...

when we are not aware...when we are sleeping...

when we do not understand the expanse of God's mercy.

We cannot avoid God's

 mercy, but we can ignore and deny it.

In the middle of our life is the mercy of God.

No matter which direction we choose to take God's mercy is there.

King David eventually does find comfort in the mercy of God...

eventually after many sins and much emotional pain.

During this year of mercy 

...be more thankful for God's great mercy.

His mercy endures forever.

We are Blessed with mercy even if 

we do not know how it is possible for our soul.

God is extending mercy to you right now.

Close your eyes and let it become the center of your life.

It is all about great Love.

~~~Peace~~~