Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest

(II Samuel 24.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)

Today’s first reading raises a few questions.  Why is it a grievous sin to take a census?  What makes David regret the order that he has made for a census?  How is it that God has seventy thousand people die from the pestilence before he stops the carnage?  Answers may not be available in this text, but they might be gleaned from knowing the story of Israel.

By ordering a census David is becoming like other kings.  He will likely use census data to tax the people and to draft an army.  He is no longer going to depend upon God to deliver Israel from harm.  David has the capacity to sin egregiously but also to repent wholeheartedly.  His conscience evidently recognizes that he has sinned greatly in turning away from God to rely on his army’s numbers.  Finally, God should not be considered as changing His mind like David does.  Rather His infinite mercy should be recognized.  Justice demands payment but 70,000 lives is quite enough.

David possesses many qualities for us to emulate and a few that require our abhorrence.  We certainly should follow our consciences when they accuse us of sin and go to Confession.  We also need to ask God’s help in the future without making pretentious calculations about how we will take care of ourselves.  Prudence requires action, but we should always act in the name of God.

 

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