+ In the first reading we have the screenplay for a tv series called: "Ancient Housewives" – with King David, Uriah the Hittite and Bathsheba playing the main roles. The only difference is this is for real and the intrigue and deception involved had major consequences. The simple plot is that David wanted Bathsheba for his wife, who was already married, so he arranged to have her husband killed, oh, and he also found out she was carrying his child. And so it happened. But, what sets this apart from contemporary television is that David – an inherently religious man – knew not only that he had done something that could be considered "illegal" but the same act was also something SINFUL. I can think of no modern television dramas that even remotely refer to SIN. David knew that he had sinned in a triple manner here. He lusted after Bathsheba from afar, he had relations with her in secret and he killed her husband.
But David's conscience soon kicked in and he realized what he had done – he saw it most importantly as SIN – and he proclaimed it as such – and he cried out to God: Be merciful, O Lord, for I have sinned! Thus he composes the beautiful 50th psalm which is heart-felt and shows true desire for repentance: Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense and my sin is before me always. And God did wash away his guilt, forgave him and restored him to his place among his people!
May we be willing to acknowledge our offenses – call sin, sin – and be willing to accept whatever consequences our sinfulness may have generated. God will be merciful to us, in his own way – and will restore us as he wills – if we are truly contrite of heart!
In the gospel passage we see Jesus using parables to preach the Good News, the Gospel, the Reality of the Kingdom of God. As he desires to get the message across that the Lord is truly kind and merciful, compassionate and forgiving to all who ask for it – he uses analogies and comparisons couched in stories that the people can understand. Today he says that the Kingdom grows and becomes what it is supposed to become like a seed that is planted in the ground and slowly becomes what it is intended to become without anyone really knowing exactly all the minute details. These details are not as important as the fact that it happens under the guidance of a Master Gardner!
The Kingdom is also like a tiny seed that when planted and grown becomes a very large plant so that a great number of birds can come and dwell in its shade. We are the birds; the Church, is the plant, the Kingdom. It is up to us to fly to the tree, and call other birds to come join us! It is a very wonderful plant and it will be protected always by the watchful eye of the Master Gardner!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
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