Faith has a similar challenge. Samuel seems so sharp and clear in the first reading. As Saul is being made king after winning his first battle, the people are warned. Essentially Samuel says to the people, this is just a king. You will be tempted to put all you trust in him, or the power of army he can amass for you, or the judgments he will hold out to you, the order he will require of you. He goes on, this day by the power of God, as the wheat is to be harvested, I call down thunder and rain and its destruction on the harvest to remind you that God is source and first power and aid in life.
I was reminded of this in June's rains and the winter wheat growing adjacent to Greenacre. The late heavy rains beat the wheat to the earth in swirling patterns as if it was bowing to God and sun. Thus it was more difficult to harvest and a reminder that there are limits to man's manipulation of nature.
Samuel reminds the nation to revere God and serve and obey him and all will go well.
Simon the magician sees Peter and John pray that the gift of the Holy Spirit will fill the hearts and lives of the new followers of Christ in Samaria. We are not told just how the reception of the Spirit was manifested, but something visible happened, for Simon wants to buy this power, add it to his tricks. Simon is rebuked. God's life giving Spirit is only to the sincere of heart and there freely given. It does not come so much to our greed as to our charity shared. Pray for this and be patient.
Herod and Pilot become friends this day in Luke's Gospel when they attempt to satisfy the pressure exerted on them. The frenzy of the Good Friday crowds is underway. The religious authority has gone to the secular authority to bring an end to the challenge embodied in Jesus. They do this by the accusation that Jesus is a political threat, desires to be or is King. "You have said so..." is all he says in response. The desire for no disruption in politics and tradition become close allies. It is as if we are asked to realize how easily we humans get lost on this plane and its acquired power.
Yet there stands Jesus the forever sign that God interrupts our power with something like purpose, hope, renewing care. Always offering a road to deeper actions, reminding us to look through any power moment to a more imaginative level of care.
I am reminded that as our government's curtailed funding for mental hospitals, public housing, food supports and so forth, it has been houses of faith that have opened their doors to shelter the growing homeless population, fed them as we could and imagined Habitat for Humanity. Shelters in particular were often opposed by government.
None of this corrects our lack of national care. Yet each is a sign of another way of care.
Pilate and Herod will bring about Jesus' ending...or will they? It may seem so for a moment or a day. Shortly the power of God's care will undo their power, but not by an oppressive hand. It will come by their troubled hearts/minds learning of an open tomb, disciples enlightened by hope's return, people gathering in baptism and prayer. It happens by the hand of God opening human hearts to that most troubling enterprise - hope joined to faith joined to actions of care.
So often when we find ourselves caught between power, pressure, demand we are best guided by seeking the direction of greater care, more healing interactions, places where life rises to its better self.
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