Whoever Listens

Whoever Listens

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

Piety

For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us, but each one of us went off after the devices of his own wicked heart, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.” Baruch 1:21-22

And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.' Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” Luke 10:15-16

Study

The call to repentance is a part of the proclamation of the kingdom.  God did not give Moses (or us) a unilateral covenant.  He provided a land flowing with milk and honey but expected some action in return.  Call it God’s Law of Thermodynamic Faith and Action: “Every act of forgiveness is met with an equal and opposite act of repentance or change.”

However, our readings today remind us that if we do not react according to the requirements of the New Covenant, God will send down a severe judgment for those who hear the word and harden their hearts, thus rejecting it.

In addition to the Covenant making us inseparable from God, the Father, Son and Spirit cannot be separated either. Rejection of one rejects the others.

The emotional baggage expressed in the laments of Baruch finds us in the present moment as well. What have you lost?  A coin? A sheep?  A relationship? The most important relationship? 

Action

And as for you, Fairfax: “Will we be exalted to heaven? Or will we go down to the netherworld?” 

We, too, have a chance to listens to the Lord and the prophets.  We, too, have a chance to accept the Kingdom and change the direction in which we are looking for happiness.  Yet, we, too, have the capacity for rejection.  Rejecting the prophets.  Rejecting Jesus.  Rejecting the One who sent Jesus.

We are tempted to (and indeed do) turn away from the Lord every day in big ways and in small ways.  We act out our little denials in the courtyard until the rooster crows with the sunrise. 

What will it be, Fairfax?  Where is your exile? Did Jesus abandon you?  Nah, I didn’t think so.  He’s right there waiting for you to change directions.