Day 131: Hope for the Future

2 Samuel 13:1-39 Just as Adam’s sin led to Cain’s murder of Abel, similarly David’s sin had adverse moral repercussions on his own sons. David painfully observed their wrongdoing and realized that this was punishment for the sins he had committed. (CCC 2268, 2356, 2388)


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 This chapter is almost identical to an earlier narrative (cf. 2 Sam 7) but with some differences. In this account, God told him that one of his sons would oversee the construction; the promise regarding the Davidic dynasty is not stated as strongly as in 2 Samuel; and the prayer of David gives more explicit credit to God for his success.


Ch 17:13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: The Lord referred to Solomon, son of David, who would continue the Davidic dynasty and would build the Temple that God had requested. In the Old Testament, to be a “son” of God had a variety of meanings; the term was applied to the Kings of Israel, the people of Israel, their children, and even the angels. These usages in the Old Testament are qualitatively incomparable to the unique status of Jesus Christ, the ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, who is God himself. (CCC 441)


Psalm 35 Here the psalmist turned to the Lord for deliverance from persecution. He described his miserable state, made his petition to God, and then confessed his trust and confidence in the Lord. 


Who hate me without cause: According to John, Christ cited this verse when false witnesses brought charges against him (cf. Jn 15:24-25). 


Malicious witnesses...with their teeth: The psalmist provided comfort and sympathy and even did penance for his friends amide their sickness and turmoil. However, these same friends never reciprocated these kind gestures. Instead, they are like the friends of Job who chided him on the assumption that he had sinned in some way. (CCC 304)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)


(*Walking With God: A Journey Through The Bible by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins)



In Jesus’ name, Fr. Mike is PRAYING FOR YOU, HEAR HIS WORDS IN YOUR EARS. 

LET THE WORDS OF GOD PENETRATE YOUR HEARTS.

YOU ARE NOT UNLOVABLE,EVEN IF SOMEONE HAS ABUSED YOU AND USED YOU, YOU ARE NOT UNLOVABLE.

YOU ARE NOT DISQUALIFIED FROM BEING LOVED TRULY AND FOREVER

YOU ARE NOT DISQUALIFIED.

YOUR PAST HAS BEEN MARKED BY TRUE WOUNDS AND TRUE UGLINESS AND TRUE EVIL.

BUT YOUR FUTURE IS RESTORABLE.

YOUR FUTURE IS REDEEMABLE.

YOUR FUTURE IS A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE.

BECAUSE OUR GOD TAKES THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN AND MAKES THEM WHOLE AGAIN!

GOD TAKES THINGS THAT ARE LOST AND HE FINDS THEM!

GOD TAKES THINGS THAT ARE DEAD AND HE GIVES THEM LIFE AGAIN!

IF YOU FEEL BROKEN YOURSELF, WHATEVER YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, JESUS DESIRES TO MAKE YOU WHOLE!

IF YOU FEEL LOST, JESUS DESIRES TO FIND YOU!

IF YOU FEEL DEAD, JESUS WANTS TO RAISE YOU UP AND GIVE YOU A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE!

HEAR THESE WORDS!

THIS IS TRUE ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU.

YOUR FUTURE, YOUR LIFE, IS NOT OVER.

NOT BY A LONGSHOT.



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise. We thank you because we do find ourselves in battles. We find ourselves called upon to act, called upon to speak, called upon to refrain from acting, and called upon to be silent. All these different times, Lord, it’s so confusing sometimes how we should act and how we should not act. When we should move and when we should not move. Lord, especially when you have entrusted your children to our care, it is hard to know when discipline is called for and when mercy is called for. It’s hard to know when justice is called for and when forgiveness and clemency is called for. And so, God, we just ask for your wisdom in making decisions, your wisdom in assisting others, your wisdom in serving others, and your wisdom in leading others. Because, God, it is often complex. Life is often complex. And the next step is not always absolutely clear. And so we pray for wisdom to know what to do, to know how to move forward, to know how to be yours, and to know how to actually help the people around us. Help us to be the kind of people who can help the people around us. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”