We have a contributor today from Arlene Muller, lector & Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at St. Pancras Parish, Singer in St. Margaret's Choir, Professed Secular Franciscan at St. Adalbert's Secular Franciscan fraternity, itinerant speech/language Therapist with Preschool Children with Delayed Language Development. Arlene likes to write spiritual reflections in words and song to promote the gospel & the gospel of life. Her song "Anthem of Praise" is song by the Adult & Youth Choirs at St. Margaret's Church.
Arlene is responding to the article in Give Us This Day. The link is as follows: Truth and Consequences - Give Us This Day
My understanding of this account of David being pardoned by GOD for his adultery with Bathsheba, his deception/"cover up", and his murder of her husband, Uriah is twofold:
- GOD forgives, cleanses the soul from sin & restores the relationship & fellowship between the sinner (in this case, David), & erases the eternal consequences of the grave sin, so that the sinner (in this case, David) will not spend eternity in hell & will have the hope of heaven.
- At the same time, actions have consequences & there are still temporal consequences. One of the most important life lessons to be learned in life, as early as possible, is that all our actions have consequences, and when we choose an action, whether good, bad, or somewhere in between, we choose the consequences of that action. That is why our parents & other authorities in our lives discipline us. GOD is our perfect parent. In the book of Hebrews the writer addresses the issue of GOD’S discipline: the proof that we are GOD’S legitimate children is that we are subject to GOD’S discipline to perfect us.
Arlene is so right. And, I'd like to add that early discipline in the consequences of our decisions when we're children protects us from more painful consequences that God uses to discipline us when we reach the age of reason.
ReplyDeleteAmen. And I'd like to add that the early training in consequences by teachers and parents actually protects us from suffering God's much harsher consequences for bad decisions when we become adults.
ReplyDeleteI agree that our actions (in thought, word, or deed) have consequences. However, my comment is a little different. Sometimes the discipline of parents and some teachers (depending upon its severity) only instilled fear, but not for the right reason. We were taught in school that "God is judge", but a loving relationship was not emphasized. As humans, we can sometimes be harsh judges of others. Jesus came to earth to change all that. He showed compassion to the Samaritan woman at the well, to the woman caught in adultery, and to the "good thief" on the Cross saying "this day you will be with Me in paradise". We read appearances & judge, but God reads the heart.
ReplyDeleteThe yes I believe that God reads the heart of all of us. I also believe that he is a loving and forgiving God. Hopefully he will forgive me for I was not a very good teenager. Didn’t hurt anyone but I was bad. Growing up a Lutheran I always loved Church and being in the choir. I also taught bible school but when I was with my friends I was a brat. Best thing I did was become a true catholic. Mom was Lutheran and dad was catholic. He decided to become Lutheran. I went to church every Sunday then I went to Catholic Church with my girlfriend every week. Finally I decided to make it legal and it was the best decision ever. I have been a practicing. Catholic for over 35 years and proud of it
ReplyDeleteEven though one may have achieved "the age of reason", we can sometimes act without thinking, without using that reasoning in our actions. I think we all could say that at some time in our life we may have thought to ourselves, "I shouldn't have said/done that". What's important is that we change the behavior after realizing it. As for being Lutheran, obviously you were brought up in the faith, which carried over to adulthood. But, you also came back to your "true roots" in Catholicism, even though you were brought up Lutheran, as one parent was Catholic. That take courage to make a change. Thanks for sharing your story.
DeleteDavid was forgiven for his adultery with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah, but the consequences of his sin were also promised by God. David was told that the sword would never part from his household. Christ was a descendent of David. He suffered because of his ancestors' sins and those of the whole world. His side was pierced with a sword, a lance, and blood and water flowed forth as a sign of divine mercy. Mary, his mother also of the house of David, suffered with metaphorical swords that pierced her heart throughout her life because of her Son and the sins of the world. So sin has consequences. Christ and Mary suffered because of our sins and the effects of sin.
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