January 31st, 2004, Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest.

A reading from the second book of Samuel. King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army

who were with him, tour all the tribes in Israel, from Dan to Beir Shiba, and register the people that I may know their number.

Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered. In Israel, 800,000 men fit for military

service. In Judah, 500,000. Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people and said to the Lord,

I have sinned grievously in what I have done.

But now, Lord, forgive the guilt of your servant, for I have been very foolish.

When David rose in the morning, the Lord had spoken to the prophet Gad, David Sear, saying,

Go and say to David, this is what the Lord says. I offer you three alternatives.

Choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.

Gad then went to David to inform him. He asked, do you want a three years famine to come upon your land,

or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you,

or to have a three days pestilence in your land?

Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me.

David answered Gad, I am in very serious difficulty.

Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful, but let me not fall by the hand

of man.

Thus David chose the pestilence.

Now it was the time of the wheat harvest when the plague broke

out among the people. The Lord then sent a pestilence over Israel from mourning until the time

appointed, and 70,000 of the people, from Dan to Beersheba, died. But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,

the Lord regretted the calamity and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people,

...