Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people, and said to the Lord: ‘I have sinned grievously.’ ” –2 Samuel 24:10 Mass Readings: January 31 First: 2 Samuel 24:2,9-17; Resp: Psalm 32:1-2,5-7; Gospel: Mark 6:1-6 Listen to the Mass Readings David committed serious sin in his life. For example, he committed adultery and arranged for the husband of his mistress to be killed. One of David’s worst sins was not so spectacular. Against God’s will, David counted the number of men fit for military duty in Israel and Judah. This sin resulted in the deaths of 70,000 of King David’s...

“If only I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!” –2 Samuel 19:1 Mass Readings: January 30 First: 2 Samuel 18:9-10,14,24-25,30–19:3;Resp: Psalm 86:1-6;Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 Listen to the Mass Readings Nathan, the prophet, had revealed to David that David’s sin of adultery would result in many deaths (see 2 Sm 12:10). The child conceived through David’s adultery died (2 Sm 12:18). Amnon followed in the footsteps of David, his father, by committing the sexual sin of raping his sister Tamar (2 Sm 13:14). Absalom, Tamar’s brother, took vengeance on Amnon and murdered him (2 Sm 13:28-29). Years...

“Shimei…was coming out of the place, cursing as he came. He threw stones at David.” –2 Samuel 16:5-6 Mass Readings: January 29 First: 2 Samuel 15:13-14,30; 16:5-13; Resp: Psalm 3:2-7; Gospel: Mark 5:1-20 Listen to the Mass Readings Shimei behaved toward King David like Satan and his demons behave toward the people of God. Shimei threw curses and stones at David, kicking David while he was at the lowest point in his life. Shimei did his best to drive the king out of town (see 2 Sm 16:7). The Gerasene townspeople likewise drove Jesus, a King greater than David, out...

“The married man is busy with this world’s demands and occupied with pleasing his wife. This means he is divided.” –1 Corinthians 7:33 Many of you who readOne Bread, One Body are married. Today’s second reading seems to imply that marriage is a limited vocation because a married person is not able to be both married and “busy with the Lord’s affairs” (1 Cor 7:32). It is important, however, to read this passage in its context. St. Paul believes that Jesus will return shortly (1 Cor 7:29, 31). If “the time is short” (1 Cor 7:29), then it is vital...

“You are the man!” –2 Samuel 12:7 Mass Readings: January 27 First: 2 Samuel 12:1-7,10-17; Resp: Psalm 51:12-17; Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 Listen to the Mass Readings From a distance, David saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing. Instead of looking away, he looked lustfully at her (2 Sm 11:2). This led to adultery, murder, and the death of an innocent child. If David had not repented after being confronted by Nathan (2 Sm 12:7ff), his lustful looks could have resulted in the destruction of the nation. When Jesus tells us to gouge out our eye rather than look lustfully, He’s doing us...