Good things bad ways

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are proclaimed on the memorial day of St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church. The second Book of Samuel tells of the great procession of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem under the leadership of King David. This marked a change of approach of the people of Israel to the sign of Presence. David brings the Ark to his capital Jerusalem and focuses the spiritual, religious and political life of the people in a positive way to the central place which God should have in their lives. FriarJude Winkler explains that the priestly functions performed by David in this passage are actions in the line of the priesthood of Melchizedek. The difficulties encountered in the transport of the Ark to Jerusalem are linked to neglect of attention to the sacred traditions concerning how God is recognized among us. The intimacy of the relationship with God though Jesus is explained today in the Gospel from Mark as one of brothers, sister and mother. We honour and live that relationship through action in accord with the Will of God. AndyAlexander, S.J. of Creighton University, recalls words of Pope Francis on the primary place of mercy as the virtue which God is to humanity. Our relationship with people is in accord with the Will of God when it shows mercy and forgiveness. The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis apostolic exhortation, comments on Thomas Aquinas understanding of mercy as the greatest of all virtues. The brilliant scholarship of many theologians is a great gift to the Church as we struggle through exegesis and study to perceive how we need to evolve toward the complete life as brothers, sisters and mother of Jesus. The controversy and conflict which sometimes accompany our David-like journey in His Presence remind us that good things are often hidden in bad ways or procedures.