Should the story of David's seduction of Bathsheba be read at mass?

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Are you actually questioning the appropriateness of reading THE BIBLE at Mass?

David’s adultery with Bathsheba is a fact. There are many sins committed in the bible. However, this is a major part of Salvation History. OF COURSE it should be read at Mass.

David paid dearly for his sin. And, the lectionary readings continue in the book of Samuel with David’s repentance and punishment.

Ultimately God brought good out of it, and the descendents through this line include… wait for it… JESUS.
 
I think this is an excellent reading. I think there are a lot of people who have no idea that the Bible has such stuff in it. They think it’s just a lot of fluffy Love One Another Hallmark sayings and sweet admonitions and ancient poetic language.

I think some people in the congregation will see themselves, and be convicted of their sin.
 
1ke said:
Are you actually questioning the appropriateness of reading THE BIBLE at Mass?
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No, but suppose I were a neophyte who attended mass that Friday only and did not get the full context of the story provided by the following days’ readings. What would I think? I would be very confused and possibly even think the Catholic Church supports adultery! The pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar focuses on the most important select readings, not quoted out of context; it enables one constantly to solidify one’s fundamental understanding of our Catholic faith. The current calendar, however, presents far too many readings related, but still auxiliary, to those readings of the fundamentals of our faith.
 
Should the story of Adam’s and Eve’s eating the forbidden fruit be read at Mass?
Should the story of Cain and Abel be read?
The story of Noah’s ark…?
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah…?
The story of the Hebrews’ worshiping an idol…?
The story of the woman caught in adultery…?
The story of Saul’s campaign against the early church…?
:confused:

tee
 
LJN21 said:
The Liturgy of the Word isn’t about getting ones mind in the proper state for Communion but the education of the faithful.
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Okay, so what do you think of my response to 1ke?
Geremia said:
No, but suppose I were a neophyte who attended mass that Friday only and did not get the full context of the story provided by the following days’ readings. What would I think? I would be very confused and possibly even think the Catholic Church supports adultery! The pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar focuses on the most important select readings, not quoted out of context; it enables one constantly to solidify one’s fundamental understanding of our Catholic faith. The current calendar, however, presents far too many readings related, but still auxiliary, to those readings of the fundamentals of our faith.
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One would not teach, for example, calculus and arithmetic simultaneously. Similarly here, why are the fundamental readings—i.e., those of the pre-Vatican II calendar—mixed with other, more advanced readings?
 
The priest always has a chance to give a short talk on the readings even in daily Mass. Its his job to worry about.
 
Not to mention the story in Daniel where the two old men plotted to have there way with the young lady. But Daniel at her trial tripeed them up with their own words for which they were executed. No that’s a lesson - and the story could not be shown to children. It real life and you can not sanitize it. In Heaven we will not have to worry about it.
 
When the lectionary was reorganized the thinking was not the person who walks in out of the blue. The thinking was the universal Church. The lectionary was set up to allow the universal Church to follow salvation history and read through it in three years. It is a cycle.

Such stories are part of the story of salvation. God creates man. Man falls. Man is reconciled with God.

The readings are not selected just for their catechetical value, but also because each one is a link in demonstrating Christ’s presence through salvation history, from creation to the second coming.

This story foreshadows the mercy of Christ as he ministers to sinners. It is not really about seduction. It is about Christ the priest who absolves even the most wicked sins. Therefore, it ties in very well with the liturgy of the Eucharist, where Christ gives his life on the cross for sinners.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂

PS There are many stories about adultery in the scriptures and other that could be rated M for mature audiences.
 
Am I seriously reading a thread in which someone is questioning whether SCRIPTURE should be read at the Mass? My goodness, the amount of scripture we read at Mass, and the fact that the Church doesn’t shy away from difficult and uncomfortable passages, is the reason I’m Catholic today.

I love the EF, but it’s not the Mass I attend most regularly. I love the fact that the OF has tons more scripture than the EF. It made my transition from Bible-only Protestantism much easier to handle.
 
hilde_the_dog said:
Not to mention the story in Daniel where the two old men plotted to have there way with the young lady. But Daniel at her trial tripeed them up with their own words for which they were executed. No that’s a lesson - and the story could not be shown to children. It real life and you can not sanitize it. In Heaven we will not have to worry about it.
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How about the stories of the two women named Tamar in the Old Testament…?:eek:
The Bible gets way beyond PG ratings.
 
Geremia said:
No, but suppose I were a neophyte who attended mass that Friday only and did not get the full context of the story provided by the following days’ readings. What would I think? I would be very confused and possibly even think the Catholic Church supports adultery!.
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Highly unlikely.
I think it’s more likely that a neophyte would get that idea from getting to know people who claim to be Catholic but don’t live as one, or from talking to the wrong priest.
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
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Who should edit the Bible?

It should not be cut out, we need to spend more time on OT readings.

Adultury was a sin then and now. Our focus in Lent is on repentance and reforming our lives. Let’s start with the big sins ie sins in the 10 commandments.

Lastly I inadvertently hit no on the poll - opps. I am sorry.
 
Geremia said:
On Friday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time in Year II (catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/2002USL-Weekdays-OT-II.htm), the story of David’s seduction of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17) is read at mass! How is this appropriate for getting one’s mind in the proper state to receive Holy Communion?
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If the story of David’s sin was not told then how could Nathan’s parable of the rich man stealing the poor man’s ewe lamb and the story of David’s repentance be told?

I cannot imagine failing to hear 2 Samuel 12 read at Mass.
 
Geremia said:
On Friday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time in Year II (catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/2002USL-Weekdays-OT-II.htm), the story of David’s seduction of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17) is read at mass! How is this appropriate for getting one’s mind in the proper state to receive Holy Communion?
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Did you happen to read the Responsorial Psalm that followed the First Reading for that day?
catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/2002USL-Weekdays-OT-II.htm
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4* Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right* spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
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If David had never sinned against God, then he would have never written this most beautiful psalm of repentance and contrite heart.

In order to have repentance, one first has to have sinned.
 
Geremia said:
On Friday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time in Year II (catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/2002USL-Weekdays-OT-II.htm), the story of David’s seduction of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17) is read at mass! How is this appropriate for getting one’s mind in the proper state to receive Holy Communion?
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By this reasoning, you can’t read one of my favorite books at Mass. How many times have you heard the Song of Songs? All right, confession time! My name is The Fool and I am a Song of Songs addict. I can’t stop reading it. :tiphat:I enjoy reading Song of Songs and do it frequently! Anybody else willing to admit that?!:
 
Geremia said:
No, but suppose I were a neophyte who attended mass that Friday only and did not get the full context of the story provided by the following days’ readings. What would I think? I would be very confused and possibly even think the Catholic Church supports adultery! The pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar focuses on the most important select readings, not quoted out of context; it enables one constantly to solidify one’s fundamental understanding of our Catholic faith. The current calendar, however, presents far too many readings related, but still auxiliary, to those readings of the fundamentals of our faith.
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It is certainly appropriate to use this reading during the Mass. David did some horrible things, notwithstanding the incident with Bathsheba. However, this sin also forced David ot acknowledge his evil act and plead for God’s mercy. Psalm 51 is a result of that sin. Even though David knew he did a great evil in the sight of God, he also knew that the Lord still loved him and so he was bold enough to ask for mercy.

Incidentally, none of David’s wives are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, only Bathsheba, who wound up being the mother of Solomon. Thus, the Lord shows that even out of an act of evil there can come out some good, for through his subsequent union with Bathsheba, David begot Solomon whose descendant was to be Jesus.
 
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