The first reading today portrays the interaction between King David and the prophet Nathan who acts as a kind of voice of conscience for the king. Nathan gets the king to admit his sin of adultery. David truthfully admits, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan acclaims, “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin.”
This Biblical scene highlights how each of us must embrace these two truths — we human beings sin and God forgives. Some of us find it difficult to admit our sin. Sometimes we need other people to be a mirror for us to come to such an admission. Some of us find it difficult to receive God’s forgiveness, or the forgiveness of others, or to forgive ourselves.
The challenge set before us today is to experience both the admission of our sinfulness and God’s merciful forgiveness. How is this so for you?