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.
