Faith is like a wheelbarrow ride

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020120.cfm
2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17
Mark 4:35-41

In the first reading the Lord sent Nathan to David to have him make a judgement in a case.  The case was about a poor man that had one ewe lamb and a rich man with many sheep.  The lamb was like a child to the poor man and he loved that lamb as though it were a member of the family.  The rich man was to entertain a visitor.  Instead of taking one of the sheep from his own flock he took the lamb from the poor man and made a meal of it for the visitor.  David said the man deserved death.  Then Nathan said that man is you.

At this point a bit of the back story needs to be reviewed.  At that time of the year there were wars going on.  David’s armies were out fighting but David had remained in Jerusalem.  One day, while standing on his balcony looking over the city and what did his little eye spy, but none other than Bathsheba taking a bath.  Bathsheba was married to Uriah who was at war.  Now David already had seven wives and concubines so he really wasn’t desperate for companionship.  At this point David could have repented for violating a commandment but didn’t.  Well, she was a very beautiful woman so he invited her over.  One thing led to another and they slept together. Again, he could have repented for violating yet another commandment but didn’t.  Sometime later Bathsheba realizes that she is pregnant.  At this point David could have again repented and asked God for help getting out of this mess but didn’t.  Instead David wanted to handle this all by himself.  Since Uriah is off fighting a war this presents a dilemma for David.  To try to cover up his misdeed he calls Uriah in from the war to discuss how things are going.  After a bit of conversation with Uriah he tells him to go home and rest thinking that he would sleep with Bathsheba.  Instead of going home Uriah sleeps with the servants.  The next day David asks Uriah why he didn’t go home and rest.  Uriah tells him that while his men are fighting a war he did not feel right about going to his home and sleeping in his bed.  Now David has to go with plan B.  That night he has a big meal with Uriah and gets him drunk.  Once again Uriah sleeps with the servants instead of going home.  Uriah then returns to the war.  David now decides on a plan C.  He sends word to have Uriah sent on what was basically a suicide mission.  Of course, Uriah did not survive.  Once again repentance should have been called for as he violated yet another commandment.  

After Bathsheba goes through a mourning period David marries her and a male child is born.  That brings us back to today’s reading.

When Nathan tells David that the man who stole the poor man’s sheep David’s eyes are opened to the seriousness of his sins.  Nathan then tells David that  the Lord has already forgiven David but that as a consequence of the gravity of the sin the child must die.  Despite fasting, praying and sleeping on the floor in sack cloth on behalf of his son, the child becomes gravely ill and dies.  The stunning part of this is that the Lord had already forgiven David.  This tells me that the Lord forgave David his sin but that David did not repent for his sin until Nathan opened his eyes.  David’s pride blinded him of his own faults.

When we are in trouble and have sinned do we have the faith to know God will forgive us if we repent.  Also, do we have the faith to put our dilemmas in God’s hands or do we think that we can handle it all by ourselves.  Sure, we will need to take some action, but we can be more confident if we know that we have placed our trust in our Lord to guide us in the right direction.

This brings us to the gospel reading.  Here we have Jesus and some of His disciples leaving a crowd of people.  To avoid being followed by the crowd they cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat.  Jesus was always preaching, praying or being besieged by crowds seeking counsel or healing.  There was little time for eating or sleeping.  He was literally exhausted and fell asleep on the boat.  While in the boat a violent squall came up.  I don’t know if you have ever been in rough seas.  Many people think that large lakes are safe, but in a storm the water can become violent with very large waves, strong winds, lightning and blinding rain.  I have been in squalls in Mississippi and the clouds can be so thick that darkness can set in even in the middle of the day.  I have seen it get so dark that the street lights came on.

Being on a small boat like the one Jesus was on would have been even worse.  The waves can become huge.  When you get between the waves all you can see is a wall of water in front of you and behind you.  As it mentions in the gospel, their boat was taking on water.  That tells me the waves must have been much higher than the bow of the boat.  In order not to capsize the boat, the oars men would have had to keep the boat heading into the waves.  That would have been very difficult with the reduced visibility and the wind.  I would have been scared just as the disciples were scared.  These disciples had heard Jesus preach, they had seen him cure things that seemed incurable and yet, in their panic forgot all of that and woke Him up and said, to paraphrase, “We’re going to die!”  Jesus said “Quiet! Be still!” and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  Then Jesus asked them “Why are you terrified?  Do you not have faith?”

Both readings have to do with putting your life in God’s hands and having faith in His assistance.  Although they are used interchangeably, there is a difference between belief and faith.  I heard a priest explain it in this way.  Suppose I see an ad on TV that a man is going to cross the Grand Canyon on a tight rope while pushing a wheelbarrow.  I would be pretty amazed and decide I have got to see this.  So, I drive down to the Grand Canyon and watch.  Sure enough, he not only crosses the Grand Canyon pushing the wheelbarrow, but turns around and pushes it all the way back.  Well, now I’ve seen and I believe.  Faith is if I am willing to now ride in that wheelbarrow.