King over us

The tension in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is between the desire of human beings to have ultimate authority over their lives and the deep understanding that we are in intimate contact with Divine Presence.  The people of Israel in the First Book of Samuel seek to have a king. The tradition for centuries was to have a charismatic choice of a judge like Samuel to be responsible for the national needs of the people but also to remind them of their Covenant as the chosen people to bring witness of life in harmony with the will of God to the world. R.J.Moeller shares his understanding of how the decision of Samuel to appoint his sons as judges had not worked out because of their action to seize personal gain through their authority. In the text today, God declares that the people have rejected Him as their leader. Their desire, according to Moeller, was to be like the other nations. The Gospel from Mark sets a scene of a great number of people clamouring to be with Jesus in Capernaum. The sense of immediacy which Don Schwager finds in the Gospel of Mark is present as the friends of the paralytic remove the roof covering to lower the man to Jesus for healing. What did they seek? The words of Jesus brought many to hear. His action is most important to Mark. The words of Jesus to this paralysed man shock the Jewish audience. The forgiveness of sins is the prerogative of God. There is evidence that this was a deeply held conviction of Jewish religious belief. The restoration of this man to health was anti climatic, but it did show action that supported Jesus bold declaration of Divine Presence. We are torn as our culture insists that as masters of our own destiny we will know happiness and satisfaction. We are aware of a greater deeper loving Presence Who offers what human ability cannot create… peace.