Dealing with nature

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer meditation on the 
interaction between human behaviour and the response of God. The Prophet Nathan brings David a parable about a rich and powerful landowner who takes severe advantage of a poor herdsman in the passage from the Second Book of Samuel. The rage of David and his zeal for justice against the aggressor is stopped as Nathan reveals David's adulterous and murderous acts against Bathsheba's life are the real transgressions in Nathan's story. One human expectation might be the abandonment of David by God, yet as Psalm 51 so marvelously proclaims, the Lord will use the life and story of David to teach transgressors His Ways. There are consequences when people turn away from the guidance of the Divine and pursue their own lusts and passions. David is the ancient example but the consequence of "taking care of number one" is visible in shattered relationships, anger and violence every day. The "natural" drive to satisfy our desires is countered by the "supernatural" invitation to mercy, forgiveness and intimacy from God to us and like reconciliation we can offer those who transgress against us through the power of the Spirit. The Gospel of Mark presents in straightforward language, explained by Friar Jude Winkler as the tone of the Gospel, the supernatural power to calm the storms of fear, doubt, uncertainty and loss of control by the Faith which recognizes that the journey is part of the mission when the disciple is accompanied by Christ.