THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary time, 2022

2Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a 13-17

Ps 51

Mark 4:26-34

St Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor

Human Weakness and God’s Mercy

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of St Thomas Aquinas, a great Dominican, a wonderful Philosopher and Theologian. He studied under St Albert the Great and took on the works of Aristotle—the greatest philosopher of the ancient world. Thomas brought simple, straightforward sense into this philosophical study, declaring that ‘truth cannot contradict itself.’ He left behind many writings including Summa Theologiae. He was a man of great faith and sanctity.

The first reading of today (2 Samuel 11:1-4a.5-10a.13-17) recounts an afternoon, when David did not go to battle with his army, a clear case of an idle hand becoming the devil’s workshop. Even the strongest among humans, have their low points in life. To face temptation is a regular thing, for every living person. How we respond in the face of temptation is however what determines, whether it ends in a fall or not. David we were told in this passage, went up in the afternoon for a walk, and then saw a beautiful woman, in her own house, taking her bath. The weakness of the strong man came to the fore. The lustful thoughts this generated in David, was the borderline to sin. He gave in to lust, he inquired about the woman, he sent for her and had carnal knowledge of Bathsheba, the wife of a faithful soldier at the battle front, for the nation. The adultery was a grave sin, but beyond that, was the injustice done to Uriah, whose wife was taken and his life wasted for no reason whatsoever. The Psalm of today was the song with which David pleaded for mercy, accompanied by his remorse and repentance, but God’s judgement included the fact that the child conceived by that illicit affair, will not survive, and Uriah’s wife will also have to produce the child, that will succeed David on the throne.

Have you behaved like David by giving in to temptation? There are those like David, who try to cover their tracks by delving a deadly blow to the innocent. There are those who covet others goods and the services that should go to others. David received the mercy of God, when he owned up to his crime, repented and asked for pardon. God leaves the door of mercy open and calls us to repentance always. Do not harden your heart by going further and deeper into sin and evil. Do not miss the opportunity for your redemption.

Let us Pray: Lord, we acknowledge our weaknesses which sometimes lead to wickedness. Make us strong so as to stand firm in the face of temptations. Amen. 

+Remain blessed