Understand These Things
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them. Hosea 14:10
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." Mark 12:32-34B
Piety
I beg your pardon. I never promised you a Rose Garden! Along with the sunshine, there has to be a little rain, sometimes.
Study
Today’s reading from Hosea seems in direct and diametric conflict with the words Jesus delivers in the New Testament. Hosea seems to indicate that walking along the path Jesus takes is straight and easy – at least for the “just.” However, remember these great marketing tactics that Jesus shared:
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. Mark 8:34-35
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53
You know the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother.’” And he replied, “All of these I have observed from my youth.” l When Jesus heard this he said to him, “There is still one thing left for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when he heard this he became quite sad, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:20-23)
He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. (Luke 22:35-36)
Pick up your cross. Set the earth on fire. Family Division. Buy a sword. Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Otherwise, how can we do all this without grumbling or questions (as St. Paul warned the Philippians?)
I would contend that more than just sinners will stumble in walking these paths. These messages sound more like a walk up Calvary rather than the straight paths promised by John and Isaiah.
Action
“We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.” —- Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Maybe our Lenten sacrifices are designed exactly to toughen us up for the challenges ahead.
There are three weeks remaining in Lent until Good Friday. How are you doing holding up on your Lenten promises? There is still time to focus on the forgiving finish.
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