God punish us . . . for He loves us!

11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 16, 2013

Year of Faith

First Reading: 2 Sam 12:7-10, 13

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11

Second Reading: Galatians 2:16, 19-21

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:36-8:3

In the first reading, king David, committed a grave sin against God, for he was anointed and chosen to become king of Israel and Judah; that is to say, he was the leader and protector of the weak, powerless, poor people, and servant of all; as well as against his neighbor, Uriah the Hittite, one of the best soldiers in king David’s army and husband of Bathsheba, for plotting his murder to take his wife Bathsheba (cf. 2 Sam 12:9, 10).  Nathan, the prophet of God, pointed out directly to king David his guilt without dilly-dallies (straight to the point), he said: “You are the man!” (Ikaw nga ang salarin!) (2 Sam 12:7).   Then, one by one he narrated the gifts and graces God had given to him: (1) anointed as king of Israel and Judah, (2) rescued from the hand of the first and/or former king Saul, (3) gave him the lord’s (king Saul) house of Israel and of Judah, (4) gave him many wives. (2 Sam 12:8).  Nathan added that God will give many more gifts and graces to come for him. “And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more” (2 Sam 12:8).  See how generous God is to him and to us.  He never fails graces upon graces towards us, if we obey Him, serve Him with full hearts and sincerity. 

But man’s desire cannot be satisfied.  The more he gets the more he wants.  After Fall, God cannot satisfy our hunger and thirst for anything, except if we voluntarily surrender to Him our appetite and desire – the freedom and free-will.  God, in His goodness, was betrayed by man’s sinfulness and weaknesses.  Although, God is good, He also punishes our offenses.  Nathan, the mouth of God, prophesied the punishment uttered to David and in his kingdom. “Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house” (2 Sam 12:10).  The kingdom of Israel and Judah or the Promised Land will experience lots of war.  This is also a reminder for all of us, sinners, if we will not change our ways of life.  Even if we hide our guilt, God sees them all that we have done against Him and of our neighbors.  Someone will point to our face the sins we have committed, “Why have you spurned the LORD and done evil in his sight?” (2 Sam 12:9).  He knows everything.  There is nothing hidden under the sun, or in the shadow of darkness, that He cannot see or know or discover, for He is God who scrutinizes us through and through.  He knows us very well.  He also corrects our wrong-doings.  “The sword shall never depart from you. . . because you have despised me . . .” (2 Sam 12:10). 

Yet, do not get me wrong when I say also, that the love of God is beyond measure, for part of God’s love is to correct us.  Like a good father of his family, our God and Father also castigates (or pinapalo sa puwit) us for He loves us and He wants us to amend our life and straighten our behaviors.  God, also as Father, sometimes He changes His heart from a very strict to a forgiving Father, when we, His children, accepted and acknowledged the wrong we have done and wholeheartedly ready to ask for the forgiveness of our sins.  Like king David when he recognized his sins asked for forgiveness, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Sam 12:13).  And the representative of God, Nathan, would say, to David and to us “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin. . .” (2 Sam 12:13).