The agent as a distraction

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer a consideration of how we can focus on the human agent in events which are revealing much more about our relationship with the great questions of being. The event described in the First Book of Samuel is the triumph of David over Goliath. Our focus is on David and we draw useful motivation from the little guy defeating the giant. Our literature celebrates this notion. The text, and the historical battles with the Philistines, according to Friar Jude Winkler, do not credit David with this victory but are evidence of Providence acting with the Israelites to bring them along in their relationship with the Divine. In the Gospel of Mark Jesus is confronted five times in Galilee. In the scenario today, the a man with a withered hand is cured by Jesus on the Sabbath. The evidence of the mercy, compassion and immediate forgiveness of God for this man is over shadowed in the minds of the Pharisees by the opportunity to discredit this troublesome man Jesus by seeking allies against Him through His violation of the Law concerning the Sabbath. How well do we let our daily interactions with people, our heroes and those who vex us, reveal to us the deeply mysterious and awesome opportunity we have to live in this time and space as Providence continues to lead us home through the people we encounter.