1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22 / Mark 2:1-12
Quite often we have heard of this saying: The grass is always greener on the other side. It always seems to be but is that the reality?
That proverb points to the tendency that people always think they would be happier in a different set of circumstances. It implies that other circumstances seem more desirable but in reality they may not be.
In the 1st reading, we heard that all the elders of Israel came to Samuel and demanded that he appointed a king to rule over them. But the purpose was that they could then be like the other nations.
Until then, Israel never had a king to rule over them. There was no need to because God rules over them and there was no need for a human king.
Yet, now they demanded for a king "so that we in our turn can be like the other nations; our king will rule over us and be our leader and fight our battles".
They looked at the other nations around them and thought that the grass over there was greener and they forgot what God had done for them.
So in essence, they rejected God and opted for a human king, which eventually would lead to dire consequences.
Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God. Like Melchizedek in the book of Genesis, Jesus is the king of justice and peace.
In the gospel, we saw how that justice and peace were expressed in forgiveness and healing of the paralytic.
And the people were astounded and praised God saying "We have never seen anything like this".
And if we start looking at the grass on our side and see what God has done for us, we too would be astounded and we too will praise God.