Why would God choose David, such a sinner, adulterer and murderer to be King and why would He plan for Jesus to come from the house of David?

by Shiu Lan
2016-06-12
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Samuel 12:7-10,13


Galatians 2:6,19-21


Luke 7:36-8:3


Many years ago, when I first heard about the story of King David (first reading), I was puzzled for a very long time why would God choose such a sinner, adulterer and murderer to be King and why would He plan for Jesus to come from the house of David?

It was after hearing many homilies that I began to appreciate that it was David’s repentance that mattered. He was truly repentant as soon as he was reprimanded by Prophet Nathan that he had gravely sinned. God reveals to us through this story how merciful he is towards sinners. His mercy is fathomless. No sin is too big to be forgiven. What God asks of us is just our true repentance and our resolution to sin no more.

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear directly from Jesus the forgiveness of sins. God loves us and readily forgives us. When we are truly repentant, we will be forgiven and relieved of the guilt of sin so that we can live again in the joy and peace that were lost when we sinned. For this, we are grateful to God and we are able to return His love. Our love for God comes from experiencing God’s endless mercy just like the woman in today’s Gospel reading who wept for her sins. She showed great love for Jesus by bathing his feet with her tears, kissing his feet and anointing them with ointment. Jesus is teaching us how a bigger sinner can show greater love for God because a bigger sinner is like a debtor who is cancelled of a bigger debt. Jesus bears no grudge against sinners, He forgave the woman, an infamous sinner in the city and told her to “Go in peace” (Luke 7:50)

By our repentance, we begin a love relationship with God. God loves us immensely and He is forever patient and waiting for our love for Him.

MORE ARTICLES

RELATED