There probably have been times in our lives where we find ourselves making difficult decisions. Perhaps some of us are executives or managers who have to decide whether to lay off workers in order that our business will survive. Some of us may be part of a group of people who need to determine whether a person committed a crime and may have to spend most of his life in jail. Many of us could be the head of the family who may need to decide whether to move to another country for a career at the expense of uprooting the family.

Both readings today seem to underscore such a theme. David was presented with a difficult decision of three options by God to inflict on the people of Israel. He chose pestilence, which resulted in the death of thousands.

In the Gospel today, Jesus faces a crowd of people whom he knew since childhood. Unfortunately this crowd doubted him and Jesus made the decision not to continue his ministry among them. It may have been a logical decision but we could feel his disappointment and sadness for coming to that decision.

How we run our lives depends on the decisions we make. Sometimes these decisions can be difficult and/or have very unpleasant consequences to the extent we lose friends and offend our closest relatives.

God came to David’s side after the pestilence and David eventually built an altar that led to the end of the plague and suffering. Jesus, after deciding to leave Nazareth, continued with his ministry to teach and heal among the villages of Galilee.

The Lord is at our side through difficult times. Jesus teaches us that life goes on especially when we are entrusted with a Mission — the Mission to spread the Word of God and to practice our love and concern for our neighbor.