In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard reflects on how God uses the flawed and the fallible to further his purposes.
Readings for Friday in the third week of Ordinary Time can be found here.
The popular press, and nowadays the internet, loves a scandal. Especially if it involves a political or religious leader who comes unstuck because of a sexual indiscretion. The public, of course, say it is terrible to see such filth in the papers, but then rush to the shops or switch on their phone so they can find out all about it!
The Biblical equivalent of a tabloid scandal is today’s reading from 2 Samuel. The great King David is shown to be a reprehensible character on three counts. First, he sends others out to battle while he stays at home. Second, David decides he wants to have another man’s wife, Bathsheba, and so he does just this, and makes her pregnant. And then, worst of all, he arranges for Bathsheba’s husband Uriah to be killed so he may take her for his own wife. It’s a grim tale indeed. But … David is still revered as the father of the Israelite nation, and as the ancestor of Jesus. For Bathsheba’s part, she later bore David another son who would become his great successor Solomon.
The truth is that God can work through the most unlikely, the most flawed, and the most fallible people in order to further his purposes. In the Gospel, Jesus indicates that this principle can be applied to the Kingdom of God itself. The mustard seed is so small, so insignificant, so seemingly unpromising. And yet, from those beginnings, thanks to God’s grace, something amazing and transformative can emerge. The church can often feel small, marginalised, broken and struggling. As individuals we might be all too aware of our flaws and inadequacies. Be that as it may, let us thank God that he can even use us to build his Kingdom of justice and peace.
South Cardiff Ministry Area 