Kings David & Herod

Today's readings show us two similar yet contrasting characters, both kings, both coverted another woman's wife, both were reprimanded by a prophet, and we see they had two different responses. When David was reproached by the prophet Nathan, he immediately said "I have sinned against the Lord" and repented, but Herod despite knowing that John was a righteous and holy man, arrested and imprisoned him.

I am always surprised with some of the things that the Jewish people keep a record of. King David's story is one of them, here is a great king, annointed by God, highly respected and admired by the people, and yet they keep an account of how he took another man's wife and sent him to his death. But although in the book of Samuel we have the story of his affair, that is not what he is remembered for. As we can see from today's readings, it is full of praise of the king who brought victory to the Israelites (In fact only one line says anything negative - "The LORD forgave him his sins"). Why, because he was humble enough to realise his mistake and to atone for it. On the other hand, we have Herod who will always be remembered for his affair, his beheading of John the Baptist, and the part he played in Jesus' trial.

So what will people remember of me, positive or negative? Will the positives outweigh the negatives? Using David as an example, I realise that only one thing matters, to love the Lord.

"With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung" (Sirach 47:8)

That was the main difference on why David could repent, and Herod could not. David sincerely sought the Lord in his heart, and when he heard the voice of the Lord through the prophet, he recognised it, and realised his fault. Herod wasn't seeking the Lord in any way. He liked to listen to John, but was perplexed by what he said. It can be said that sin had so corrupted him, which led to his decision to excute John, and in the end, he could not recognise the Lord, when Jesus was brought to him.

And this brings me to my last point, which is that recognition of the Lord. In our liturgy class we contrasted two other people, and the results of their encounter with the Lord. Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman (Jn Chp 3 & 4). Nicodemus, a pharisee, came to Jesus by night (in darkness), and left unchanged. The Samaritan woman, encountered the Lord at the well, and it changed her life, and she went and spread the news to all in her town.

And so it is in our liturgy. When we encounter the Lord in the celebration of the mass, do we go back changed? Can we be like David, who changed when he heard the Lord's word. Or are we like Herod, we like to hear it, and it perplexes us, but then we go out unchanged. After yesterday's post, where I mentioned Fr Rector's sermon, it was challenging to me, nice to hear, but I'm reminded today, that if I don't act on it, I will just be like herod. Am I really seeking God in my life.