Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Lectionary: 241

Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, 'Our god,'
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion."

 I srael turned to larger neighbors like Assyria and Egypt for help when they were threatened by other neighbors. And they learned through bitter experience that their more powerful allies had no concern for Israel. Like the United States in its dealings with Ukraine, their interests were their own and neither Israelite nor Judaeo. 

Though MAGA dictates that we will rely on ourselves alone, and no other nation, have we also reached the end of reliance on superior science and technology to solve our problems with climate change and hostile enemies? After more than a half-century of failed military adventures, our military investments of money and personnel have rendered few dividends. Canadians are not ready to fold under our threat of annexation, nor is Denmark willing to cede Greenland. Trump's harrumphing only makes the US look ridiculous; and our spending, wasteful. Perhaps few Americans have noticed reports of superior technology from China and many other nations. 

The world, like the grieving kings and merchants of Revelation 18, watches and waits to see what will happen to the United States:

The kings of the earth who had intercourse with her in their wantonness will weep and mourn over her (Rome) when they see the smoke of her pyre.

They will keep their distance for fear of the torment inflicted on her, and they will say:

“Alas, alas, great city,

Babylon, mighty city.

In one hour your judgment has come.”

The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her, because there will be no more markets for their cargo: their cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple silk, and scarlet cloth; fragrant wood of every kind, all articles of ivory and all articles of the most expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human beings.

The time of penance has come.  

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return to me and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 1:3)

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. (James 4:8-10)

Lent teaches us a hard lesson. Like the one who counsels himself and has a fool for a counselor, those cities, nations, or people who rely on themselves for salvation will not be saved. Their accumulated wealth, expertise, and power are the investments of fools. 

Lent teaches us to lament, mourn, and weep because we have not only failed to save ourselves we have seriously insulted the only One who can save us. Helpless as we are to alter the course of world events and the decisions of our nation's policies, we can still pray, fast, and do charitable works.

As Saint Francis said to his friars, "While we have time, let us do good. "