Leave the Land of Your Exile and Come Home

March 21, 2012

Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent

By Colleen O'Sullivan

Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (Isaiah 49:13-15)

Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.” (John 5:17-20)

Piety

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The Lord is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

(Psalm 145:8-9)

Study

O Lord, as I ponder your words to your children in exile, I am led to reflect on my own history with you. Before all time, O God, you knew me. You named me before I was a thought in anyone else’s mind. You shaped me in my mother’s womb. I was no “accident.” You called me forth to be your child and wrapped me in your everlasting love.

As I grew older, you gave me the gift of reason as well as freedom of will. In spite of your great love for me, I have often used my freedom to turn away from you. I am sure I have hurt you many times. Through my sins, I have found myself more than once in a strange land, in exile, as were my ancestors in faith.

I hear you calling me as you called them. You promise me sustenance for the journey. Come home, you say. I will make the path straight. I will provide you food to eat and springs to quench your thirst. I forgive you. Please, just come home.

When, like Zion, I complain that you have forsaken or forgotten me, you must be amazed and hurt beyond words, you who provided safe passage through the Red Sea, manna in the wilderness, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, you who sent your prophets to guide us, you who sent your only Son into our world to save us from our sins. It’s I who have abandoned you, I who have chosen to turn away and live in exile.

Yet, even in the face of my ingratitude, I hear you saying, “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”

Action

When you have some quiet time today, listen carefully for the beckoning, loving voice of the Lord. Hear God speak to you as he spoke to the children of Israel. Give up your sins, leave the land of your exile and allow yourself to be led home. Let yourself rest in God’s embrace.