Memorial of Saint John of the Cross

Saint Maximillian
Kolbe
in Angola, Indiana

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
Who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
Nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
They shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.

When Abraham negotiated with God to save the miserable cities of Sodom and Gomorrah he was thinking primarily of his nephew Lot and his family. You remember that he first asked if God would spare the cities for the sake of fifty just person in the cities. Of course he and God both knew there were not that many good citizens there. So the dickering continued until Abraham had to concede there were not even ten honest persons in both cities combined.

But he did manage to save his nephew and his family. I think God continues to spare the world the devastation that we deserve, or that we bring upon ourselves, for the sake of the remnant that is us.

That thought should add a dimension of urgency to our daily prayers, pious practices and frequent sacrifices. If our prayers make a difference in the mind of God – and they surely do! – our sins also rattle the universe. We should do no wrong and speak no lies, nor should there be found in our mouths a deceitful tongue. We just can’t afford it!

Even our hidden sins are seen before God; and only God knows their true dimensions. But it’s safer to say, "They are Enormous!" than to think they really don’t matter.

During this season of Advent we thank God for the daily reminders of our prayers. daily and hourly the Holy Spirit urges us to pray. The wail of a siren and the evening news urge us not to worry or fret but to be present to the ever-presence of our Good God. in prayer he still pastures and couches his flock, with none to disturb us.