As we prepare for the decennial census, commissioned by the Constitution of the United States, we might wonder why David ’s decision to take a census of his nation offended God so much. There is no clear answer in scripture.
So, in the spirit of the tour guide in Washington DC
Perhaps the offense was enumerating human beings. Although we count people all the time – I do it when I celebrate Mass, trying to calculate how many hosts to consecrate – there is something absolutely unique and holy about a human being. To count them is to compare them, and how can you compare one human being to another?
Perhaps the offense was enumerating human beings. Although we count people all the time – I do it when I celebrate Mass, trying to calculate how many hosts to consecrate – there is something absolutely unique and holy about a human being. To count them is to compare them, and how can you compare one human being to another?
Ask yourself, how do you feel when you read that tens of thousands were killed by an earthquake in Haiti California
Given the infinite worth of the human soul, how can you count one tragedy as greater than the other? Is one infinity greater than another? Have you dared to evaluate a tragedy of cosmic dimensions with a number?
Perhaps the sin of David was taking a prerogative that still belonged to God. There had been a lot of controversy when Samuel anointed Saul as the first Jewish king. In fact the old man had strenuously resisted the move until God himself told him to do so. Like all things political, this resistance didn’t evaporate simply because it had been overcome. Five hundred years later, when the books of Samuel and Kings were redacted, they had not forgotten this quarrel.
Perhaps counting people seemed like one more step beyond kingship and into perdition. In any case, we can use the story to remind ourselves of the sacred worth of every human being, and of the holiness that invests every moment of our lives. If secularized societies count voters and consumers, and militarized societies count boots and bodies, holy people count on God.
Interesting that you bring up human dignity. My students in Religion class have been grappling with the idea of human dignity. In fact one situation, we were talking about "adult bookstores". I told them I didn't like the term. It makes it sound like when you grow up, it will be okay to go to the adult bookstore. I prefer to call it what it is - pornography. I really had to press the point to help them understand how porn just demeans us all. It is another way to look at ourselves as less than human, but as just a thing. I wonder how the youth of our culture get this message. We are all made in the image and likeness of God.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Martha