The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary contain images of the central person being in the midst of people. The passage
from First Kings describes King Solomon, David’s successor, after acting in a
priestly and extravagant manner, encountering God in a vision Who seeks to
equip the new young king with the gifts he will require to rule the Kingdom of Israel.
Friar Jude Winkler explains some of the complex life of this man who
becomes synonymous with Wisdom. Solomon realizes that he is in the midst of the
people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be
numbered or counted (1 Kings 3.8). In the Gospel from
Mark, Jesus appears to intend to take his disciples, who have returned to Him
from teaching and healing, to a quiet place to recharge their batteries. People
attend to the movement of Jesus and the disciples and they congregate around
them. Jesus finds Himself in the midst of a great crowd for whom He has
compassion because they are like sheep without a shepherd. The desire of
Solomon for wisdom is a response which confirms that we are people who search
truth. The great nation given to Solomon to rule will seek truth about God, the
Covenant and the role of those who seek to know the truth. Jesus began to teach
the multitudes who were demonstrating their need for some direction and reassurance.
Friar Jude identifies this role of shepherd and comforter as very much part of
how believers are invited to participate as the Body of Christ amid the
multitudes. Our bodily presence offers an opportunity for those who are
wandering or seeking to encounter some patience, kindness, mercy or empathetic consideration
of their situation. Our action with others, because they need it, is the
response we have known from the Shepherd and it is the truth which our presence
with them may convey.
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