Vulnerabilities of Human Nature

In today's first reading, 2 Sam 24: 2, 9-17, David orders a census taken of all the tribes in Israel that he may know their number.  He learns that there are 800,000 men fit for military service in  Israel and, in Judah, 500,000, a total of 1,300,000 men that he can employ in wars against Israel's enemies.  His pride and engaging in a task apart from God is an insult and an offense against God.  A prophet is sent to David with the instructions to offer David three alternatives to David, one of which God will inflict upon David:  three years of famine, a three-day pestilence upon the land, or that David himself flee from his enemies for three months. David chose the pestilence. Seventy thousand Israelites lose their lives as a result of this scourge upon the land.  David begs the Lord to spare the people, saying: Lord, punish me, not these people; I am the one who sinned against you.

How easy it is for us to play God, to engage in activities without consulting God, to go against God's wishes. By doing so we are saying to God: I don't need you! We may be surprised at King David, as he was the one who took on Goliath, saying that God would be on his side, as He was in sparing David's life from the lion when thrown into the lion's den by his enemies!  David, as God's chosen one had done both great things and things that revealed significant weaknesses and vulnerabilities to sin. And each time, confronted, David listens and repents of his wrongdoing.

None of us is exempt from the weaknesses of human nature, neither the rich nor the poor, neither those in privileged positions or those in positions considered lowly.  All of us need God and, at times in our lives, need God desperately as did St. Dismis, who, during his crucifixion, turned to Jesus and begged for mercy. 

May you and I, like King David and St. Dismis, acknowledge our sinfulness and turn to the Lord for His mercy and assistance.