Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần
thứ Ba Thường Niên: (Mark 4:26-34 )
Qua bài tin mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu dạy chúng ta một bài học về Nước Trời, Nước Trời dược coi như là một hạt cải giống nhỏ, rất nhỏ, nhưng khi được ương trồng, và tự nó sẽ nẩy mầm và tự phát triển trong môi trường thiên nhiên.
Sức mạnh của Thiên Chúa sẽ làm cho mọi người chúng ta nhận biết đến Ngài và cảm nhận được tình yêu của Ngài, và nhận thức được là Lời Chúa là không có giới hạn. Ngài đã bảo đảm với chúng ta như thế. Chúng ta hãy cảm tạ Thiên Chúa về những điều này.
Khi chúng ta có được sự tự tin tưởng và Thiên Chúa và biết thông phần với Chúa Giêsu trong các công trình của Ngài, chúng ta cần phải thực thi những gì mà Ngài muốn chúng ta phải làm, và phần còn lại khó hơn, Ngài sẽ nhận những việc ấy cho chúng ta. Như một hạt rau cải dù rất bé nhỏ, mắt người thường khó có thể nhận ra và phân biệt. Nhưng hạt giống này một khi đã được gieo vào đất, nẩy mần, lớn lên và phát triển như một cây to lớn, có tàn lớn để các loài chim có thể làm tổ và sinh sống trên đấy. Nếu Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa giống như hạt cải nhỏ bé này, thì chúng ta phải biết đón nhận, tạo môi trường cho “hạt cải “Nước Trời được lớn lên và phát triển trong tâm hồn của chúng ta. Chúng ta chỉ có thể biết cám ơn, ca ngợi và chúc tụng Thiên Chúa với một lòng khiêm tốn. Vì tình yêu của Thiên Chúa thật là vĩnh cửu!
" Lạy Chúa Thánh Thần, xin hướng dẫn cho chúng con biết những phương cách mà Chúa đang thực hiện trong cuộc sống của chúng con và con đường tương lai mà Chúa đã lên kế hoạch cho chúng con. Giúp chúng con biết nhận ra và thừa nhận các phép lạ dù lớn hay bé mà Chúa đã thực hiện trong cuộc sống của chúng con. "
Reflection:
Wikipedia describes the mustard seed as a small round seed of the mustard plant, which is usually about 1 or 2 mm in diameter. In other words, the mustard seed is really tiny! Christ intentionally chose one of the smallest seeds to illustrate how the Lord works.
We don't need a big seed to produce a big tree. We carry our weaknesses, our defects, and yet, Christ in his great power and wisdom, supplies the soil, the nutrients, the water and other ingredients to help us grow into one of the largest plants of the garden, with branches that can help others find shelter. It is the Lord at work. We cannot steal the glory of God, therefore, recognizing our weaknesses and inabilities helps us realize that we are nothing without the Lord.
It is interesting that Jesus chose to teach in parables rather than in a direct explanation of what He wanted to teach the people. It was to test and see the intention of every man. In fact being learned does not guarantee faith; being intelligent does not guarantee wisdom. Many little ones, unlearned people accepted the preaching of the Good News more readily than the scholars. The first disciples were, in fact, fishermen. Revelation is seen and understood only with the Holy Spirit dwelling upon a vessel of humility. A person full of himself will never listen to the voice of God. Only the humble will listen with the heart rather than with the intellect, and therefore "understand" the heart of God which dwells in love. We are invited to allow our faith to grow like the mustard seed into full maturity with a discernment that guides our conscience every day.
Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to the crowds: “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. Mark 4:26–27
It’s beautiful to reflect upon how the Word of God changes people’s lives. This short passage above analogizes the sharing of the Word of God with the planting of seed. The sower goes forth and scatters seed into the ground and then observes how that seed grows into a fruitful plant. The mysterious line states “he knows not how.” So it is with the Word of God. When that Word is received by another, we are blessed to be able to stand back and watch as that Word takes root and transforms their lives. Of course, at times we may sow the Word and it doesn’t take root. This is on account of either the hardness of another’s heart or on account of the way in which we sow. But when the seed of God’s Word does take root, we should be in awe of how God works in that soul.
Once God’s Word has taken root in a soul, it is a holy practice to “rise night and day” so as to observe this seed as it grows. Specifically, we must allow ourselves to be amazed at the mysterious way that a life is changed, be it your own life or the life of another. It’s inspiring to observe the soul of a person as it begins to root out sin, to seek virtue, to establish a life of prayer and to grow in the love of God.
If this is something to which you find it hard to relate, then perhaps it’s time to either allow that seed of God’s Word to fall gently and deeply into the fertile ground of your own soul or to prayerfully look for ways in which God wants to use you to sow that seed into the heart of another. Doing the latter takes much openness to the working of the Holy Spirit. It requires that we allow God to inspire us so as to know how we can cooperate with His hand in evangelization.
Reflect, today, upon the “mystery” of a soul who goes through this process of change and spiritual growth. If you find it difficult to find such an example to ponder, then turn to the lives of the saints. The saints are among the greatest witnesses of those who allowed God’s Word to sink deeply into their lives so that they became new creations, transformed by God’s grace. Ponder this transforming witness and allow yourself to be drawn into gratitude and amazement as you do.
My transforming Lord, I thank You for the way that You have sown the seed of Your holy Word into my own life. I thank You for the way in which You have changed me, freed me from sin and set me on the path to holiness. Use me, dear Lord, to sow that seed in the lives of others and fill me with wonder and awe as I witness Your merciful hand at work. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 3rd of Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord, let my prayer be fervent so that I see myself and the world more spiritually—the way you see me, the person you always hoped I would be.
1. God Makes the Plant Grow: Farmers work hard. They worked even harder in Jesus’s time, but for all the work they did, they couldn’t make a plant grow—even today’s farmers cannot make a plant grow. What is the farmer’s job then? To help the plant grow. A farmer removes obstacles to a plant’s growth, like weeds. The farmer also gives the plant what it needs to grow and be healthy, if necessary, like water and fertilizer. The farmer provides the best conditions for the plant to grow and the plant responds by growing. Jesus tells us that his kingdom is like this. We don’t make it grow. God does. Our job is to provide the best conditions for the kingdom to grow, first of all in our hearts and then in the hearts of those around us.
Saturday on 3rd week of Ordinary 2021 Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Qua bài đọc hôm nay, chúng ta có thể tưởng tượng đến các Tông Đồ trong chiếc " thuyền " giữa cơn biển động, Chiếc thuyền này là biểu tượng cho Giáo Hội chúng ta, và những cơn bão tồ, biển động là biểu tượng của "thế giới" hôm nay.
Cho tới nay, Giáo Hội chúng ta vẫn còn đang bị bách hại vì sự trung thành với Lề Luật của Thiên Chúa. Hơn nữa, vì những sự khát vọng, ham muốn của con người đã luôn luôn muốn mình được giải phóng chính mình thoát ra khỏi ý muốn của Thiên Chúa. Đức tin sẽ xuất hiện như là một động lực chống lại "thế giới", và như vậy sẽ có sự bắt bớ, sẽ có bách hại vì sự công bằng trong tất cả các thời kỳ lịch sử củ Giáo Hội Công Giáo của chúng ta. Chúa Kitô chịu đóng đinh, Đức Kitô là người công chính nên đã bị bức hại, được các tiên tri trong Cựu Ước tiên đoán trước. Chính Ngài là sự xuất hiện của Nước Trời: " Phúc cho những ai bị bách hại vì công lý , vì họ là nước thiên đàng ".
REFLECTION SATURDAY 3RD WEEK IN
ORDINARY TIME
Today's Gospel reminds us how truly privileged we are as Christians. Our God is always there with His presence, His care, His concern, His perfect love. These blessings are for us to experience, savor, and value anytime we need to, anytime we want to, and anytime we dare to. All too often however, like the scared apostles in the boat buffeted by strong winds, we despair, waver, and lose faith when confronted with seemingly insurmountable problems even while God is always there for us.
How many times did we doubt God's plan for us - during times of illness, financial difficulties, troubled relationships, natural calamities, emotional upheavals? How many times does God have to "still the winds, calm the seas" so that we can be reassured, we can be certain that He shall lift us up when we need Him?
Let us pray not so much for God's help as it shall always be there in ways that we may not readily realize nor appreciate, but rather, let us ask the Lord for the gift of discernment and constant faith that He will give what is always best for us.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
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. Mark 4:36–38
Throughout our lives, we can be assured that at some point we will encounter a storm. Not just a physical storm but a spiritual one. It may come in the form of a tragic event, a deep wound inflicted by another, the effects of our own sin or some other painful experience. And for many people, this will happen more than once.
When such a “storm” is encountered in life, it may seem as if Jesus is “asleep” and not readily available to help us through. When this happens, the message of the Gospel above is very helpful to prayerfully ponder.
As this Gospel passage continues, we read that the disciples, in a panic, woke up Jesus and said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus got up, addressed the storm and said, “Quiet! Be still!” and all was calm. He then said to the disciples, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” The disciples were left in amazement and wonder.
The key is faith. When we face a storm in life, we must have faith. But what does that mean? It means that we must know, with a deep certitude, that Jesus is in fact always with us. We must know, with a deep certitude, that if we place all our trust and hope in Him, He will never abandon us. We must know, with a deep certitude, that every storm will ultimately pass and that peace and calm will ensue.
Facing the storms in life with faith is transforming. And often Jesus appears to be asleep for a reason. The reason is that He wants us to trust. Too often we turn our eyes to the storm itself and allow fear and anxiety to dominate our lives. But every storm we encounter is an opportunity to trust Him on a new and deeper level. If life were always easy and consoling then we would have little reason to trust deeply. Therefore, every storm must be seen as an opportunity for tremendous grace as we place all our trust in Jesus, despite how things immediately appear.
Reflect, today, upon how deep and sustaining your own faith in Christ truly is. Do you trust Him no matter what? Are you able to trust Him when all seems lost, when life is difficult and when confusion tempts you? Prepare, now, for the next such storm you may face and resolve to use that opportunity as a moment in which your faith is made manifest and becomes the stabilizing force of your life.
My sleeping Lord, help me to always place all my trust in You, no matter what the circumstances are in my life at every moment. Strengthen my faith, especially during those times when I face challenges and temptations. May I never doubt that You are there with me, leading me and keeping me close to Your merciful Heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday on 3d week of Ordinary 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord, many times I have succumbed to temptation and fallen into sin. I know the good I should do, but many times I chose to do evil instead. Despite these failings, I turn again to you, trusting that you will heal me and restore me to your friendship.
1. Sin Blinds Us: David has just committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, murdered along with several other men. Only when Nathan confronts him, does David realize the gravity of his sins. David’s anger was kindled against a man who stole a lamb. He could see how terrible the rich man was. Why was David so blind to his sin, which was much more serious and deadly?
2. David’s Prayer of Repentance: Psalm 51 is envisioned as David’s prayer of repentance. The psalm begins by expressing how we are marked by moral weakness and sin from the beginning of our existence. It uses three words to speak about the dark reality of sin. The first word for sin in the Psalm is chātā, which means “missing the target.” This teaches us that sin leads us far from communion with God, which is the goal of our existence. The second word in the Psalm for sin is awon, which carries the idea of “something twisted” or perverse, and indicates that sin is a deviation from the straight path. The opposite of this is conversion (shub) which is a return to the right path (51:13). The third word in the Psalm for sin is peshā, and this refers to a transgression or rebellion of some sort against God, the king, or other human beings. In this way, sin is seen as a rejection of and working against God’s plan for humanity. The Psalm asks God to have mercy on us, blot out our transgressions and iniquities, cleanse us from sin, recreate our hearts, and renew the strength of our spirit. The sacrifice acceptable to God is that of a contrite spirit and a humbled heart.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you became man and lived our life. You know what it feels like to be tempted and to suffer. You did not give in. You did not fail. You were victorious over the devil and were faithful to your Father’s love and will. Help me in the moments of my temptation to be victorious as you were.
Resolution: David’s sin started out small. He was lazy, wasn’t where he was supposed to be, and gave into the temptation of lust. Giving into the small temptation of laziness snowballed into adultery and murder. When we find ourselves committing serious sin it can be good, in an examination of conscience, to trace it back to where it began. This knowledge of ourselves and our tendencies can help us in our battle against sin and help us resist the small temptations we face every day.
Saturday on 3d week of Ordinary
Opening Prayer: Lord, as I reflect on these words of yours, help me to put my preoccupations aside and place myself in the boat with you.
1. Jesus Always Initiates: It’s striking that Jesus, who is omniscient, urged the disciples to get into the boat to “cross over to the other side,” knowing that a storm was coming. Jesus seeks us out, knocks at the door of our heart, and sometimes invites us into “bad weather” because he loves us and wants to give us every spiritual gift. By calming the storm, Jesus revealed to his disciples his power and might. As a result, they “were filled with great awe,” which is a precursor to the spiritual gift called “fear of the Lord.” Our Lord was awakening in them virtues like obedience, docility, and reverence, which are foundational for even greater gifts, according to St. Gregory the Great: “Through the fear of the Lord, we rise to piety, from piety then to knowledge, from knowledge we derive strength, from strength counsel, with counsel we move toward understanding, and with intelligence toward wisdom and thus, by the sevenfold grace of the Spirit, there opens to us at the end of the ascent the entrance to the life of heaven” (“Homiliae in Hiezechihelem Prophetam,” II 7,7).
Qua bài tin mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu dạy chúng ta một bài học về Nước Trời, Nước Trời dược coi như là một hạt cải giống nhỏ, rất nhỏ, nhưng khi được ương trồng, và tự nó sẽ nẩy mầm và tự phát triển trong môi trường thiên nhiên.
Sức mạnh của Thiên Chúa sẽ làm cho mọi người chúng ta nhận biết đến Ngài và cảm nhận được tình yêu của Ngài, và nhận thức được là Lời Chúa là không có giới hạn. Ngài đã bảo đảm với chúng ta như thế. Chúng ta hãy cảm tạ Thiên Chúa về những điều này.
Khi chúng ta có được sự tự tin tưởng và Thiên Chúa và biết thông phần với Chúa Giêsu trong các công trình của Ngài, chúng ta cần phải thực thi những gì mà Ngài muốn chúng ta phải làm, và phần còn lại khó hơn, Ngài sẽ nhận những việc ấy cho chúng ta. Như một hạt rau cải dù rất bé nhỏ, mắt người thường khó có thể nhận ra và phân biệt. Nhưng hạt giống này một khi đã được gieo vào đất, nẩy mần, lớn lên và phát triển như một cây to lớn, có tàn lớn để các loài chim có thể làm tổ và sinh sống trên đấy. Nếu Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa giống như hạt cải nhỏ bé này, thì chúng ta phải biết đón nhận, tạo môi trường cho “hạt cải “Nước Trời được lớn lên và phát triển trong tâm hồn của chúng ta. Chúng ta chỉ có thể biết cám ơn, ca ngợi và chúc tụng Thiên Chúa với một lòng khiêm tốn. Vì tình yêu của Thiên Chúa thật là vĩnh cửu!
" Lạy Chúa Thánh Thần, xin hướng dẫn cho chúng con biết những phương cách mà Chúa đang thực hiện trong cuộc sống của chúng con và con đường tương lai mà Chúa đã lên kế hoạch cho chúng con. Giúp chúng con biết nhận ra và thừa nhận các phép lạ dù lớn hay bé mà Chúa đã thực hiện trong cuộc sống của chúng con. "
Wikipedia describes the mustard seed as a small round seed of the mustard plant, which is usually about 1 or 2 mm in diameter. In other words, the mustard seed is really tiny! Christ intentionally chose one of the smallest seeds to illustrate how the Lord works.
We don't need a big seed to produce a big tree. We carry our weaknesses, our defects, and yet, Christ in his great power and wisdom, supplies the soil, the nutrients, the water and other ingredients to help us grow into one of the largest plants of the garden, with branches that can help others find shelter. It is the Lord at work. We cannot steal the glory of God, therefore, recognizing our weaknesses and inabilities helps us realize that we are nothing without the Lord.
It is interesting that Jesus chose to teach in parables rather than in a direct explanation of what He wanted to teach the people. It was to test and see the intention of every man. In fact being learned does not guarantee faith; being intelligent does not guarantee wisdom. Many little ones, unlearned people accepted the preaching of the Good News more readily than the scholars. The first disciples were, in fact, fishermen. Revelation is seen and understood only with the Holy Spirit dwelling upon a vessel of humility. A person full of himself will never listen to the voice of God. Only the humble will listen with the heart rather than with the intellect, and therefore "understand" the heart of God which dwells in love. We are invited to allow our faith to grow like the mustard seed into full maturity with a discernment that guides our conscience every day.
Jesus said to the crowds: “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. Mark 4:26–27
It’s beautiful to reflect upon how the Word of God changes people’s lives. This short passage above analogizes the sharing of the Word of God with the planting of seed. The sower goes forth and scatters seed into the ground and then observes how that seed grows into a fruitful plant. The mysterious line states “he knows not how.” So it is with the Word of God. When that Word is received by another, we are blessed to be able to stand back and watch as that Word takes root and transforms their lives. Of course, at times we may sow the Word and it doesn’t take root. This is on account of either the hardness of another’s heart or on account of the way in which we sow. But when the seed of God’s Word does take root, we should be in awe of how God works in that soul.
Once God’s Word has taken root in a soul, it is a holy practice to “rise night and day” so as to observe this seed as it grows. Specifically, we must allow ourselves to be amazed at the mysterious way that a life is changed, be it your own life or the life of another. It’s inspiring to observe the soul of a person as it begins to root out sin, to seek virtue, to establish a life of prayer and to grow in the love of God.
If this is something to which you find it hard to relate, then perhaps it’s time to either allow that seed of God’s Word to fall gently and deeply into the fertile ground of your own soul or to prayerfully look for ways in which God wants to use you to sow that seed into the heart of another. Doing the latter takes much openness to the working of the Holy Spirit. It requires that we allow God to inspire us so as to know how we can cooperate with His hand in evangelization.
Reflect, today, upon the “mystery” of a soul who goes through this process of change and spiritual growth. If you find it difficult to find such an example to ponder, then turn to the lives of the saints. The saints are among the greatest witnesses of those who allowed God’s Word to sink deeply into their lives so that they became new creations, transformed by God’s grace. Ponder this transforming witness and allow yourself to be drawn into gratitude and amazement as you do.
My transforming Lord, I thank You for the way that You have sown the seed of Your holy Word into my own life. I thank You for the way in which You have changed me, freed me from sin and set me on the path to holiness. Use me, dear Lord, to sow that seed in the lives of others and fill me with wonder and awe as I witness Your merciful hand at work. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord, let my prayer be fervent so that I see myself and the world more spiritually—the way you see me, the person you always hoped I would be.
1. God Makes the Plant Grow: Farmers work hard. They worked even harder in Jesus’s time, but for all the work they did, they couldn’t make a plant grow—even today’s farmers cannot make a plant grow. What is the farmer’s job then? To help the plant grow. A farmer removes obstacles to a plant’s growth, like weeds. The farmer also gives the plant what it needs to grow and be healthy, if necessary, like water and fertilizer. The farmer provides the best conditions for the plant to grow and the plant responds by growing. Jesus tells us that his kingdom is like this. We don’t make it grow. God does. Our job is to provide the best conditions for the kingdom to grow, first of all in our hearts and then in the hearts of those around us.
Qua bài đọc hôm nay, chúng ta có thể tưởng tượng đến các Tông Đồ trong chiếc " thuyền " giữa cơn biển động, Chiếc thuyền này là biểu tượng cho Giáo Hội chúng ta, và những cơn bão tồ, biển động là biểu tượng của "thế giới" hôm nay.
Cho tới nay, Giáo Hội chúng ta vẫn còn đang bị bách hại vì sự trung thành với Lề Luật của Thiên Chúa. Hơn nữa, vì những sự khát vọng, ham muốn của con người đã luôn luôn muốn mình được giải phóng chính mình thoát ra khỏi ý muốn của Thiên Chúa. Đức tin sẽ xuất hiện như là một động lực chống lại "thế giới", và như vậy sẽ có sự bắt bớ, sẽ có bách hại vì sự công bằng trong tất cả các thời kỳ lịch sử củ Giáo Hội Công Giáo của chúng ta. Chúa Kitô chịu đóng đinh, Đức Kitô là người công chính nên đã bị bức hại, được các tiên tri trong Cựu Ước tiên đoán trước. Chính Ngài là sự xuất hiện của Nước Trời: " Phúc cho những ai bị bách hại vì công lý , vì họ là nước thiên đàng ".
Today's Gospel reminds us how truly privileged we are as Christians. Our God is always there with His presence, His care, His concern, His perfect love. These blessings are for us to experience, savor, and value anytime we need to, anytime we want to, and anytime we dare to. All too often however, like the scared apostles in the boat buffeted by strong winds, we despair, waver, and lose faith when confronted with seemingly insurmountable problems even while God is always there for us.
How many times did we doubt God's plan for us - during times of illness, financial difficulties, troubled relationships, natural calamities, emotional upheavals? How many times does God have to "still the winds, calm the seas" so that we can be reassured, we can be certain that He shall lift us up when we need Him?
Let us pray not so much for God's help as it shall always be there in ways that we may not readily realize nor appreciate, but rather, let us ask the Lord for the gift of discernment and constant faith that He will give what is always best for us.
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. Mark 4:36–38
Throughout our lives, we can be assured that at some point we will encounter a storm. Not just a physical storm but a spiritual one. It may come in the form of a tragic event, a deep wound inflicted by another, the effects of our own sin or some other painful experience. And for many people, this will happen more than once.
When such a “storm” is encountered in life, it may seem as if Jesus is “asleep” and not readily available to help us through. When this happens, the message of the Gospel above is very helpful to prayerfully ponder.
As this Gospel passage continues, we read that the disciples, in a panic, woke up Jesus and said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus got up, addressed the storm and said, “Quiet! Be still!” and all was calm. He then said to the disciples, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” The disciples were left in amazement and wonder.
The key is faith. When we face a storm in life, we must have faith. But what does that mean? It means that we must know, with a deep certitude, that Jesus is in fact always with us. We must know, with a deep certitude, that if we place all our trust and hope in Him, He will never abandon us. We must know, with a deep certitude, that every storm will ultimately pass and that peace and calm will ensue.
Facing the storms in life with faith is transforming. And often Jesus appears to be asleep for a reason. The reason is that He wants us to trust. Too often we turn our eyes to the storm itself and allow fear and anxiety to dominate our lives. But every storm we encounter is an opportunity to trust Him on a new and deeper level. If life were always easy and consoling then we would have little reason to trust deeply. Therefore, every storm must be seen as an opportunity for tremendous grace as we place all our trust in Jesus, despite how things immediately appear.
Reflect, today, upon how deep and sustaining your own faith in Christ truly is. Do you trust Him no matter what? Are you able to trust Him when all seems lost, when life is difficult and when confusion tempts you? Prepare, now, for the next such storm you may face and resolve to use that opportunity as a moment in which your faith is made manifest and becomes the stabilizing force of your life.
My sleeping Lord, help me to always place all my trust in You, no matter what the circumstances are in my life at every moment. Strengthen my faith, especially during those times when I face challenges and temptations. May I never doubt that You are there with me, leading me and keeping me close to Your merciful Heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord, many times I have succumbed to temptation and fallen into sin. I know the good I should do, but many times I chose to do evil instead. Despite these failings, I turn again to you, trusting that you will heal me and restore me to your friendship.
1. Sin Blinds Us: David has just committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, murdered along with several other men. Only when Nathan confronts him, does David realize the gravity of his sins. David’s anger was kindled against a man who stole a lamb. He could see how terrible the rich man was. Why was David so blind to his sin, which was much more serious and deadly?
2. David’s Prayer of Repentance: Psalm 51 is envisioned as David’s prayer of repentance. The psalm begins by expressing how we are marked by moral weakness and sin from the beginning of our existence. It uses three words to speak about the dark reality of sin. The first word for sin in the Psalm is chātā, which means “missing the target.” This teaches us that sin leads us far from communion with God, which is the goal of our existence. The second word in the Psalm for sin is awon, which carries the idea of “something twisted” or perverse, and indicates that sin is a deviation from the straight path. The opposite of this is conversion (shub) which is a return to the right path (51:13). The third word in the Psalm for sin is peshā, and this refers to a transgression or rebellion of some sort against God, the king, or other human beings. In this way, sin is seen as a rejection of and working against God’s plan for humanity. The Psalm asks God to have mercy on us, blot out our transgressions and iniquities, cleanse us from sin, recreate our hearts, and renew the strength of our spirit. The sacrifice acceptable to God is that of a contrite spirit and a humbled heart.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you became man and lived our life. You know what it feels like to be tempted and to suffer. You did not give in. You did not fail. You were victorious over the devil and were faithful to your Father’s love and will. Help me in the moments of my temptation to be victorious as you were.
Resolution: David’s sin started out small. He was lazy, wasn’t where he was supposed to be, and gave into the temptation of lust. Giving into the small temptation of laziness snowballed into adultery and murder. When we find ourselves committing serious sin it can be good, in an examination of conscience, to trace it back to where it began. This knowledge of ourselves and our tendencies can help us in our battle against sin and help us resist the small temptations we face every day.
Opening Prayer: Lord, as I reflect on these words of yours, help me to put my preoccupations aside and place myself in the boat with you.
1. Jesus Always Initiates: It’s striking that Jesus, who is omniscient, urged the disciples to get into the boat to “cross over to the other side,” knowing that a storm was coming. Jesus seeks us out, knocks at the door of our heart, and sometimes invites us into “bad weather” because he loves us and wants to give us every spiritual gift. By calming the storm, Jesus revealed to his disciples his power and might. As a result, they “were filled with great awe,” which is a precursor to the spiritual gift called “fear of the Lord.” Our Lord was awakening in them virtues like obedience, docility, and reverence, which are foundational for even greater gifts, according to St. Gregory the Great: “Through the fear of the Lord, we rise to piety, from piety then to knowledge, from knowledge we derive strength, from strength counsel, with counsel we move toward understanding, and with intelligence toward wisdom and thus, by the sevenfold grace of the Spirit, there opens to us at the end of the ascent the entrance to the life of heaven” (“Homiliae in Hiezechihelem Prophetam,” II 7,7).
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