When
the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save
them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived. The
LORD would change his mind when they groaned in their affliction under
their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would again do
worse than their ancestors, following other gods, serving and bowing down to
them, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn ways.
Judges 2:18-19
“All
of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you
wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this
statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Matthew 19:20-22
Piety
Chapter 62: On the Priests of the Monastery
…[L]et the one who is ordained beware of
self-exaltation or pride; and let him not presume to do
anything except what is commanded him by the Abbot, knowing that he
is so much the more subject to the discipline of the Rule. Nor should he
by reason of his priesthood forget the obedience and the discipline
required by the Rule, but make ever more and more progress towards God.
Study
According to the introduction to this book in
the New American Bible, “The Hebrew word translated “Judges” in the English
title of the book refers not to specialized judicial officers or magistrates
but to leaders in general.”
During this period after Joshua, Israel
underwent a cyclical pattern of infidelity, oppression, “crying out,” and
deliverance which is at the heart of today’s first reading. According to the
notes:
“When the
Israelites are secure, they forsake the Lord and worship other gods. In
punishment the Lord places them in the power of a foreign oppressor. But when
they cry out in distress, the Lord takes pity on them and raises up a judge,
who delivers them from the oppressor. The Israelites remain faithful to the
Lord during the lifetime of the judge, but when the judge dies they again
abandon the Lord, and the cycle begins anew.”
Be our leaders “judges,” priests, prophets,
kings or lay people, we still have to maintain perspective of the challenges
laid before us by Jesus. If given money, power, or other gifts, we must give up
what we are given.
Action
A
stubborn person is determined to do what he or
she wants and refuses to do anything else. People who are stubborn
are difficult to move, change, or deal with. The Israelites were stubborn and set in their
disobedient ways. The rich young man
with many possessions was happy to selectively pursue the commandments that he
chose, but not all the commandments delivered by Jesus.
Are we any different from the Israelites or
the rich young man with many possessions?
On September 12, 2001, the churches were
filled. When we were filled with fear
for ourselves, our neighbors and our country, we turned to God. The sanctuary was a comfort to our
afflictions. However, when we got
comfortable again, we were in no rush to be afflicted. What other masters have given way since then? iPhones.
NFL teams. New cars. 401(k)/TSP.
The great solitary eye.
The key to the treasure is lack of treasure. Despite
all that we have, ask yourself, “What do I still lack?” Do not cower from the answer because you
need to reconcile with that answer before you can follow the Ultimate
Commandment: “Come, Follow Me.” Don’t get too weighed down, distracted or
stubborn for that journey.
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