The Consequences Of Lack Of Faith

We are to appreciate human resources.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 4th Week in Ordinary Time II, January 31st, 2024
Texts: 2 Samuel 24:2,9-17; Psalm 32:1-2,5-7; Mark 6:1-6 

We see in today’s readings, the consequences of lack of faith. When we fail to have faith in God, we put faith in human power. King David, in today’s first reading, fell into putting faith in human power. He asked his people to be counted to know how powerful he was. The report is this: “in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand.” We begin to fail as we believe that our success is by our strength. 

The story of King David is like that of the rich fool whom God took his soul for trusting in riches. God showed King David how unreliable human power is: He sent penitence to kill the people. The lesson is expressed in the words of the psalm: “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish” (146:3-4). Faith in God is sure, for He lives forever.  

With God we shall do valiant

Faith does not teach us that success or victory comes from man but from God. In the words of prophet Zechariah: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (4:6).  Psalm 108 says, “O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes” (12-13). We are to appreciate human resources but we are not to put faith in them. Our faith for success and victory should be in God.

However, God always shows Himself as a forgiving God. He pardoned David again, for he acknowledged his sin. We read, “But David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the  Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O  Lord, I pray you, take away the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.’"   

I will confess my transgression to the  Lord

David teaches us once again that refusal to acknowledge sins is what leads to perdition. Hence, today’s Psalm says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is remitted. Blessed the man to whom the  Lord imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no guile. To you I have acknowledged my sin; my guilt I did not hide. I said: 'I will confess my transgression to the  Lord. And you have forgiven the guilt of my sin.” 

We see in today’s gospel reading the lack of faith. Their lack of faith denies them of salvation. We read, “And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief.” 

They also took offence at Jesus and inflicted on themselves emotional pain. In any way we might break faith with God, let us acknowledge it and return to Him. He is a forgiving God, He will take away our guilt and welcome us back.  

The Memorial St. John Bosco

We remember St. John Bosco, today. He is father of the youths. He exercised his priestly ministry at a time there was industrial revolution. The industrial revolution drew many youths to the cities and increase social problems.  

“John Bosco devoted himself to the care of the young, first of all by means of evening classes, to which hundreds came, and then by setting up a boarding-house for apprentices, and then workshops for their training and education” (Universalis). He established Salesian congregation to continue the work of caring for the young.  

We live in the age of ICT, which has come with increase in social vices among youths. This calls for more of John Bosco in our time to save the youths from vices. St. John Bosco reminds the Church and the government the need to care for the youths. We do not need to be priests to care for the youths, layfaithful could do it.  

Prayer 

O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco as a father and teacher of the young, grant, we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke