Above: The Death of Absalom
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
O God, throughout the ages you judge your people with mercy,
and you inspire us to speak your truth.
By your Spirit, anoint us for lives of faith and service,
and bring all people into your forgiveness,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 39
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The Assigned Readings:
2 Samuel 13:23-39 (Thursday)
2 Samuel 15:1-12 (Friday)
2 Samuel 18:28-19:8 (Saturday)
Psalm 32 (All Days)
James 4:1-7 (Thursday)
Romans 11:1-10 (Friday)
Luke 5:17-26 (Saturday)
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Countless troubles are in store for the wicked,
but the one who trusts in Yahweh is enfolded in his faithful love.
–Psalm 32:10, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
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Absalom rejected his father, King David, who mourned for him after he died. According to 2 Samuel, David brought the troubled life of his family upon himself via the incidents involving Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11 and 12). Absalom also brought his death upon himself by means of his ambition, pride, and variety. Nevertheless, the grief David felt upon losing another son was real.
People rejected God in the readings from the New Testament. Rejecting Jesus–especially accusing him of committing blasphemy–was–and remains–a bad idea. Those negative figures in the story from Luke 5 did not think of themselves as bete noires; they could not fit Jesus into their orthodoxy. There were also questions regarding our Lord and Savior’s credentials, so the issue of pride came into play. Attachment to tradition in such a way as to make no room for Jesus was also a relevant factor.
But, as the Letter of James reminds us, God opposes the proud and bestows grace upon the humble:
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
–James 4:8-10, Revised Standard Version–Second Edition (1971)
I propose that the grief of God over errant human beings is somewhat like that of David over Absalom. God loves us selflessly and unconditionally. Such love warrants reciprocation, but reality is frequently otherwise. Consequences of that rejection of grace unfold as they will. Yet abuses and misuses of free will, a gift of God, cannot override divine love, which permits us to decide how to respond to it. Yes, Hell is real, but no, God sends nobody there. Those in Hell sent themselves there.
May we not grieve God, who is our Father and our Mother, who, like the mother eagle in Deuteronomy, teaches us to fly and, like Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem, yearns to shelter us under henly wings. May we succeed in rejoicing God’s proverbial heart, by grace and free will.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 4, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF PAUL CUFFEE, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARY TO THE SHINNECOCK NATION
THE FEAST OF SAINT CASIMIR OF POLAND, PRINCE
THE FEAST OF EMANUEL CRONENWETT, U.S. LUTHERAN MINISTER, HYMN WRITER, AND HYMN TRANSLATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINTS MARINUS OF CAESAREA, ROMAN SOLDIER AND CHRISTIAN MARTYR, AND ASTERIUS, ROMAN SENATOR AND CHRISTIAN MARTYR
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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