The Old Testament excerpt today stays with Jeremiah, jumping back to the chapter right before yesterday’s (17:5-10).  Per the title of this post, he likens those who trust in humans as a barren bush in the desert which gets no relief versus those who trust in God who are represented as a constantly watered tree that stays ever green and bears much fruit.  This fruitfulness is noted and rewarded “according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds” (v. 10).

Jeremiah is not telling us that we should be distrustful of everyone, although we all can appreciate the terrible pain caused us by someone especially close who lies to us, betrays us, or in some other way causes us unjust hurt to our core.  This is the price of fallen human nature.  God does not have this problem.  We can trust Him because He is Truth (He cannot deceive — see Jn 14:6) and He is Love (He can do no other — see 1 Jn 4:8).  This is why it is so important that those who feel distrustful, deeply hurt, abandoned know the Lord.  There is a deep evangelical mission in this passage.  And this not just to individuals.

In the lead up to this passage, Jeremiah conveys God’s anger at His people because of “sins throughout your territory” (v. 3).  This emphasizes the need to make sure this message of blessings and curses goes out to our entire nation and all around the globe.  It is a grave error to think that this sort of talk is the “Old Testament God of wrath.”  It is fundamental to the Christian faith that God is immutable, that is, unchanging (see the Catholic Encyclopedia).  It is a false dichotomy to split up God into eras or persons (e.g., Father vs. Son).  The Almighty is paying attention.  He wants repentance and conversion through the Gospel.  But, in His great wisdom and mercy (yes, mercy in waking us up to our sinfulness before it is too late) He will intercede in a more dramatic way when He deems necessary.

It behooves us to get our house in order before God must do it for us.  We must pray, fast, and spread the Good News.

Another major prophet graces Mass today: Jeremiah (18:18-20).  Like all true prophets, His message of repentance to the Chosen People was not kindly taken to.  In this short passage, the people he has come to save plot against him.  The Christian easily sees Jeremiah as a type of Christ here.  The people seek to trap the prophet by using (or misusing) his words against him.  Sound familiar?  Just recall the trial of Jesus and the many false witnesses brought in to testify.

Jeremiah’s plaintive cry, above, ends this reading.  Leading up to this, he wonders why “must good be repaid with evil” (v. 20) as some look to kill him?  He is only doing the Lord’s will, proclaiming a message that is intended to save the people.  Was this not Jesus’ mission?  In the first utterance of His ministry, Jesus says “Repent!” (Mk 1:15).  The resistance of the religious leaders to this message ends up costing Jesus His life.  Tradition has it that Jeremiah met a similar fate at the hands of his countrymen.

How does this apply to us today?  Well, we are called to intercede to God on behalf of our country and our world.  We certainly can find plenty of things to complain about in this culture of death and defiance of the Almighty.  And we should work to change it.  But anything we do must be done in conjunction with fervent prayer.  We are not to throw up our hands in despair.  We are not to retreat into our shell and hope that they “get what they deserve.”  And if we find that we are persecuted for speaking the truth in love (because Truth and Love are just other names for the Lord) because we wish to “turn away [God’s] wrath from them” then we too can be justified in calling out to the Lord in the same manner as Jeremiah.  Desperate, but never despairing, he continued his mission.  So must we.

After being away for awhile, Isaiah returns with force as we go back to the very beginning of his prophetic book (Is 1:10, 16-20).  Here, Isaiah conveys God’s sentiments to the wicked: repent, especially of injustice.  As evil as the people have been, they still can be washed entirely clean if they “set things right…are willing, and obey” (vv. 18, 19).  To persistently “refuse and resist” (v. 20) means destruction.

The timeless message of Isaiah is, sadly, very easy to apply today.  In a world gone mad, the Lord continues to implore His people to “set things right.”  Today’s passage focuses on injustice, particularly of the orphan and widow, as a key reason for His anger toward His people.  We should work to ensure that the most needy and vulnerable are treated with the equal dignity and respect that is their due by virtue of being n God’s image and likeness; certainly widows and orphans, but also the unborn, the elderly of any stripe, the poor, the downtrodden, and prisoners.  We are to see Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters and be the face (and the hands and feet) of Christ to these poor ones.  When we see injustice, whether coming from ourselves, society, the government, or the judicial system, we must actively work to stop it.  We are called to build up the kingdom of God.  All too often, and increasingly more each day it seems, we find ourselves in the midst of a culture that embraces the prince of this world rather than the King of the next world.

Let us implore the perfect lawgiver and judge to convert our culture of death to one of life.  And let it begin with me.

Today’s Mass celebrates the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle.  Appropriately, the first reading is from a letter of Peter, in this case 1 Peter (5:1-4).  Peter directs it to his fellow presbyters (priests).whom he asks to lead their flocks “not by constraint but willingly…not for shameful profit but eagerly” (v. 2) and to not lord their position over those under their care.  Ultimately, being faithful to their calling will lead to their receiving an “unfading crown of glory” (v. 4).

Naturally, considering the feast being celebrated, we first think of the pope, the Vicar of Christ, as a special target of this exhortation.  Next, we look to the priests explicitly mentioned in the passage.  Certainly all ordained bishops and priests have a great responsibility to faithfully lead their flocks into a deeper relationship with Christ.  We should help to strengthen them in their vocation and duties through prayer, encouragement, and personal assistance.

Let us not forget, as well, all who tend the flocks over which they have been given charge, especially parents and teachers.  Parents provide the domestic church and do much to form their children through religious instruction and example.  Teachers should maintain or provide a welcoming and nurturing environment.  Children notice our behavior, whether it be right or wrong, and emulate it.  Let us not bring to ruin future generations but be Christ to them, and see the young Jesus in them, encouraging them to greater love and fidelity toward God and neighbor!

Going back to Genesis (15:5-12, 17-18), we continue to hear of the developing covenant the Lord is making with Abram.  Here God promises countless descendants and  a land to call home to an elderly, fatherless nomad.  Improbable as all this seems, God reads Abram’s heart and knows how faith-filled it is.  But, He did not only have to consider his heart to determine this.  Going back to Genesis 12:1, “The LORD said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house.”  This to a 75 year old man who unhesitatingly uprooted his family to follow the Lord.  Then he encounters famine and has to move to Egypt and endure the many trials he encountered there.  After Egypt he splits with his nephew Lot who takes the most fruitful land; then he goes to war to rescue Lot when he is captured.  All this while constantly, but unquestioningly, on the move still awaiting the promise of an heir.  This is not to mention the subsequent trials, culminating in the command to sacrifice the son with which he had finally been blessed.  It is no wonder that James says,

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?  You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.  Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” (Jas 2:21-23)

 It is by faith that we are saved.  But not “faith alone” (sola fide, a pillar of Martin Luther’s theology) which is an unbiblical concept (for starters, see the passage above).  To bring home the point, James goes on to write:

See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.(v. 24)

That faith is required for salvation is explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. “Since ‘without faith it is impossible to please [God]’ and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life ‘But he who endures to the end.'” (161)

Like Abram, we are to walk by faith (see 2 Cor 5:7) and to live by faith, even when it is most difficult — especially when it is most difficult.  To strengthen our faith, it must be exercised.  Let us not “wimp out” on this spiritual workout of utmost importance given to us by the ultimate coach: the Lord God.

Yesterday, once again, we heard at Mass a proclamation from Deuteronomy (26:16-19).  As is often the case in this fifth book of the Torah, Moses speaks to the people on behalf of the Lord.  The covenant between Yahweh and the people is this:

[H]e is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice. (v. 17)

If the people follow this exhortation they will be exalted by God and be given a place above all nations on earth.  Even those with the most basic knowledge of the Old Testament know that, unfortunately, the people did not remain faithful before this time and certainly would fall again and again after this meeting.  God’s commands are meant to be taken seriously.  When He promises, He fulfills, whether it be blessings or curses.  His word is not to be taken lightly.

This idea of remaining faithful is reiterated in the headline of this post: “provided you keep all his commandments.”  It is unbiblical and dangerous to believe in “once saved, always saved,” as if mouthing a few words (see Mt 7:21) or belonging to a certain group (see Mt 3:9 or Lk 3:8) obliges God to ignore our actions.  I heard a preacher once say, “God is not a chump.”  Yes!  Just look at a crucifix.  This is what sin does.  It is never to be taken lightly.  Will we fall?  Yes.  Must we repent?  Most certainly.  Can God forgive any sin?  This Jubilee Year of Mercy brings this realization into bright relief.  Does He want to forgive?  Like the father of the Prodigal Son He desperately desires to meet us if only we take a few steps toward Him, imperfect or halting as they may be.

We are obliged to keep the Lord’s commandments.  We will likely fall in attempting to do so.  God always welcomes back the sincere penitent.  But we must always take His words, His commands, with the utmost seriousness.  Our eternal destiny depends on it.

As our Lenten journey through the Hebrew Scriptures continues, we now encounter Ezekiel (18:21-28).  This prophet here conveys the Lord’s disposition toward those who turn to sin and to those who turn away from sin.  The wicked person can turn from sin and live justly and be saved.  Just so, the virtuous person can turn to evil ways and be lost.  God does not wish the death of the wicked but, in justice (“Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?” — v.25), He must be consistent.

This is certainly a theme in Ezekiel.  Further along, at 33:11, God says through the prophet: “As I live—oracle of the Lord GOD—I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!”

This sentiment can be found in Paul’s writings as well (God is wonderfully immutable!): “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity…is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved” (1 Tim 2-4).

So, there is always time to repent, no matter what evil we have committed, no matter how long we were astray.  Conversely, falling into mortal sin, even for a short time, and not repenting of it leads to eternal destruction (see CCC 1861).  Like God we are to desire that no one be lost, no matter how heinous one has acted, and no matter who suffered under this evil (even if it be us).  Pray for the conversion of sinners, even (especially) those who seem least likely to be open to such a change.  And when it comes to those who have wronged us, remember Jesus’ command: “pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44).  Then, like God and the angels, we too can rejoice (see Lk 15:10).

A prayer I try to say daily is for all those who are to die today who are destined for hell, that they may, in their last moments, sincerely plead for God’s mercy (it is worthwhile to remember the Good Thief on his cross [the patron saint of such sinners?].  I encourage you to do the same, especially as we are especially cognizant of the Divine Mercy this Jubilee Year.

Today we hear the heartfelt and desperate prayer of Queen Esther as she prepares to dare approach her husband, Ahasuerus, King of Persia (Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25). Per the way of the Persians, even approaching him unannounced could cost her her life.  Thus she pleads with the Lord, on behalf of her people, the Jews, that they be spared by the king from his regime’s decree to destroy them all.

Esther was feeling quite alone in this trial.  She would face the king alone and, in so doing, knew she may well die alone.  Her prayer of anguish has been echoed through the centuries by so many persons,  all imploring the Lord to “turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness” as expressed in the final words of her prayer (v. 25).

These sentiments are worthy to be kept in mind in our darkest hours.  Whenever we feel abandoned, confused, anxious, or fearful, let us cry out to the Heavenly Father for help.  He knows what we need, but sometimes we have to come to this type of dark place for us to realize what we really need.  And what is that?  The Lord.  Without Him we can do nothing but with Him all things are possible (see Mt 19:26 and Mk 10:27).  So let us humble ourselves before God daily, asking Him for help so that we can be glad and whole in Him.

Today we hear of Jonah’s mission from God which he accepts reluctantly (remember the whale?) (Jonah 3:1-10).  Jonah is to warn the pagan Assyrian capital of Nineveh that destruction is at hand.  Earlier in the book we  hear that Jonah, no fan of the city, would prefer to see it destroyed, thus his reluctance to even attempt to convert them.  Yet Jonah does God’s bidding and the king of Nineveh repents (and all the people as well).

The word of God is powerful.  It can turn even the hardest hearts to Him.  As a lesson for today, it seems that we would be better off praying for our society than bemoaning its sinfulness.  In addition, we should proclaim Scripture unabashedly, as we are supposed to, in the face of scoffers and unbelievers, recognizing that the Lord can work miracles with the most hardened sinners through the power of His word which does not go forth without effect.  Let us become immersed in the Bible so that we are more effective proclaimers and livers of the Gospel.

For the Old Testament passage today we go back to the prophet Isaiah (55:10-11) for a very short but very powerful excerpt.  God created nature giving us water and harvests to sustain us physically.  So also He gives us His word to sustain us spiritually.

Quite naturally we are reminded immediately of Christ, the Word (Jn 1); we will get back to that momentarily.  But we should also look backward to the very beginning of the Bible, that is, creation.  I am struck by the word “void” used here.  Douay-Rheims translates the beginning of Genesis 1:2 as “the earth was void and empty.”  Then what comes in verse three?  The “word”: Let there be light! Surely this word did God’s will and did not return empty — rather it filled an empty space.  Pertaining particularly to this reading, day three of the creation story is when the word goes out to pool the water, thus creating dry land, and seed-bearing plants come into existence.  All six days of creation show God’s word is made effective in Him saying it, turning chaos into order, formlessness into beauty.  It is clear that the prophet wishes to strongly evoke God’s creative ability here.

Just as this word brought light into the world, so then did the Word of God become the Light of the world in His incarnation (see Jn 8:12).  The Second Person of the Trinity was sent by the Father into space and time for a reason.  He fulfilled His call perfectly and thus, far from returning to His Father with nothing, won all humanity for Him through His perfect obedience, living and dying to reconcile divinity and humanity.  The Redeemer unwavering followed the Creator’s will and achieved the end for which He was sent.  Just as on the first day of creation, that first Sunday, the Word conquered darkness, so on that first Easter Sunday, the Word conquered the darkness of sin, Satan, and death.