Why do it that way

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider how the plan of God is not likely to be in perfect accord with our understanding of how things should be. The passage in the First Book of Kings is the direction of the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam to take rule of the ten tribes in the north who would become Israel and leaving the two southern tribes to become Judah.  Friar Jude Winkler explains the historic consequence of this division and the eventual deportation of all the tribes of Israel from this land. The chosen people are left to pursue their own destiny seemingly, like the psalmist laments, not listening to the voice of the Lord. The Gospel of Mark continues the description of the action of Jesus healing people in the pagan regions across the Jordan river from the land in which the Jewish people lived. The Messiah is directing those who are touched by His mercy and healing to keep the "Messianic secret" and not have His miraculous work cause Him to be misunderstood as a mystical healer. The path that He will lay out for His followers to Jerusalem and beyond will not be the in accord with the understanding of many about the way the Man-God should live and die.