Presence becomes personal

The passage today in the Roman CatholicLectionary from the Second Book of Samuel continues our opportunity to reflect on the role of the Presence of God in the life of the early kings of Israel, especially Saul and David and how this Presence is experienced in varying degrees by David. In the episode today, the Prophet Nathan brings awareness to David that God is aware of the sins of adultery and murder which David has committed with Bathsheba and Uriah. The idea that we have secrets from God can strangely seem possible to us when His Presence is taken for granted. Pope Francispreached yesterday on the theme of how  Christian mediocrity leads to loss of sense of sin. Friar Jude Winkler notes how David is brought to seek reconciliation with God through the intervention of Nathan. Who might be acting as prophet to us now as we may be neglecting to act in accord with the will of God? DanielPatrick O'Reilly of Creighton University recalls how his wife brought the Presence of God to his personal situation. When we are moved, or in great moments, overcome by gratitude and thanksgiving, we are sometimes able to see the Nathans of our life who have brought us back to the path of faithfulness. DavidWilkerson suggests that David, when confronted by Nathan, becomes fearful of the loss of the Presence in his life. David witnessed the decline of Saul when God was no longer part of his life. The disciples in the text from the Gospel of Mark are described by Friar Jude as fishermen who are accustomed to speaking harshly when a person on their boat is sleeping as the forces of nature appear to be focused on sinking their craft. They had forgotten in their distress that Jesus was bringing Presence to them in the deep personal way which meant that they would get through their difficulty. We are not guaranteed that the passage through difficulty takes us to the destination we would pick. The nature miracle of calming the waters was both a cause of relief that they had avoiding drowning and at the same time fear for their inattention to Presence with power over life, death, good and evil. Our need is to buck up and move on with the faith in the continuing guidance of His Presence.