Our choice for better or worse

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today shed light on one of the the greatest dilemmas of guiding people for their own best development. The text from First Samuel recounts the desire of the Israelites to have a king and be ruled as a monarchy after Samuel finished his time as judge, a position explained by Friar Jude Winkler as a temporary dictator. Samuel does not think this is best for the people and in spite of seeking counsel from God in prayer and becoming aware of the danger of the people replacing God as the direction in their lives with the king, Samuel is instructed in prayer to let them have their choice. When we make the decision with the people for whom we have some ability to direct that they may do what they choose, we hope that our analysis of the drawbacks of that choice may be faulty or that they will "beat the odds" and not suffer trouble or that the lesson they will probably learn about bad choices will be worth the difficulty they are likely to endure. The Gospel of Mark shows Jesus action to address the desire of those for the physical healing of their friend, the paralytic. Jesus, however, is aware that some spiritual burdens should be addressed and that the spiritual health of reconciliation with God is the preferred choice for people. The faith in God in the gathered assembly is acknowledged and from that trust in God Jesus proclaims the forgiveness needed. The precious gift of mercy and intimate relationship with God is offered. The rejection of this choice by the scribes, is countered by Jesus by underlining the encounter they are living is with the Transcendent One and he signs the Presence by directing the paralytic to choose to live in a new relationship with God both spiritually and physically healed. The amazement of the doubters and cynics is the prompt from the Spirit for them to reconsider their initial choice.