Saturday, January 29, 2022

Repentance and Faith


The WORD today reminds me that we should always have faith in God, and it should also lead to repentance. 

In the first reading we see the continuation of yesterday’s. we see Nathan confronting David for the evil he has done. He may not have realized what he did, or the gravity of what he did, until Nathan pointed it out. What’s good about David is that he quickly admitted his sins. He did not deny it. His attitude made things better. Instead of being sorry, blaming himself and going away from God, he repented, fasted and wore sackcloth… At least he was humble enough to accept his sins and repent. He did not move away from God, feeling ashamed and sorry for his sins. Instead, he worked on getting back on track, on making peace with himself and most especially, with God. We can see he was truly repentant because this was when he wrote Psalm 51 which we started reading yesterday – the prayer of repentance. Indeed, David was deeply sorry and longed to be in God’s grace once again.

God is always there even if we do not always see or feel him. God saw what David did to Bathsheba and Uriah, even if David did not feel his presence. The apostles in the gospel also had the experience. Jesus was sleeping in their midst when a strong storm hit them. They did not feel his presence, and asked Jesus upon waking him up if he did not care if they all die. However, when he made his presence felt, it was just awesome.

God wants us to have faith in Him – especially when we do not see or feel him. Maybe this was what Jesus wanted the disciples to develop. This is what he wants us to develop. We all know how great and powerful God is. We have seen him work in the bible, and we are continuing to see him work in our daily lives. We just need to trust in him - especially when we feel that the powers that be remain unchecked and always have their way. 

What are my concerns? Do I feel that God is far from me or he is not listening? Are there areas of my life I try to hide from God? What is he reminding me today, especially with all the things happening during this pandemic?

May we have faith in Him, be it in asking for forgiveness like David, or during times of trouble like the disciples. Let us be still, and know He is God. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Lord, sorry for the times I run away from you. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for being hard hearted. Help me be like the repentant David. Help me be truly sorry and do my very best to repent and get right with you. As I do, I have faith that you would welcome me back into your arms. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:


Daily Readings

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 322

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,
Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!
In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.
The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.
But the poor man had nothing at all 
except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.
He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.
She shared the little food he had 
and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.
She was like a daughter to him.
Now, the rich man received a visitor, 
but he would not take from his own flocks and herds 
to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.
Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb 
and made a meal of it for his visitor.”
David grew very angry with that man and said to him: 
“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!
He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold 
because he has done this and has had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David:  “You are the man!
Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
‘The sword shall never depart from your house, 
because you have despised me 
and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’
Thus says the LORD:
‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.
I will take your wives while you live to see it, 
and will give them to your neighbor.
He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
You have done this deed in secret, 
but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, 
and with the sun looking down.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.
But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, 
the child born to you must surely die.”
Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, 
and it became desperately ill.
David besought God for the child.
He kept a fast, retiring for the night 
to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.
The elders of his house stood beside him 
urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, 
nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (12a)  Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
            and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
            and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
            and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
            and sinners shall return to you.
R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
            then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
O Lord, open my lips,
            and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, 
and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”


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