God works through very human events – a rather dangerous belief

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Many saw Jesus as the long-awaited messiah, the anointed one, whose house would last forever. This messiah would be of the house of David. It was a dangerous title because it reminded the people about how David was chosen as we read in the first reading today from 1 Samuel 16:1-13. David was chosen because Saul had failed. But in the order of things, David’s discovery and eventual anointing by Samuel was a highly subversive act. Samuel faced execution if his true mission was brought to light. So, God helped Samuel to carry out his mission by subterfuge, by falsely claiming that he was coming to Bethlehem to carry out a sacrifice. Still, the mere appearance of the prophet aroused deep concern among the elders of Bethlehem because he endangered their lives as well if he was to do something that would upset King Saul or undermine the rule of Saul. We can imagine that this was a highly intense situation. He also singles out the family of Jesse to accompany him in this suspicious sacrifice. What makes things even more questionable was the way Samuel asked Jesse to bring forward his sons, one by one, because God was to choose one of them for a mysterious role. Each of the sons of Jesse were impressive. But God indicated to Samuel that not one of them was chosen. The atmosphere would have been highly charged. Something’s wrong. Are these all the sons? There was still one more but he was just a boy, the youngest, who was out in the fields tending the sheep. Samuel tells Jesse, “Send for him. We will not eat, complete this ritual, until I have seen this boy.” As David enters, God tells Samuel, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” As David is anointed, the Spirit seizes him. Something dramatic must have happened and it was clear that David was bound for greater things.

 

When we read the story, and sense the atmosphere, we get a sense of how human the story is. There is subversion, suspicion, dangerous subterfuge, a strange ritual, a procession of young men and a final dramatic choice. The point basically is that God works through very human events. This helps to make sense of Jesus’ claim in the gospel today from Mark 23-28. When Jesus’ disciples pick ears of corn on the sabbath day, the Pharisees complain because these followers of Jesus did something that was against the Law of the sabbath. So Jesus reminds the Pharisees that God works through very human events and the purpose of his laws are to serve human needs and not some kind of divine design. Let’s try and be more honest about the very human background behind the rituals we carry out and the practices we follow.

 

Tom Rouse