Lectionary: 412
O Rock, you have readied him punishment! Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil, and the sight of misery you cannot endure. Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself?
In today's first reading, the prophet Habakuk raises the question we hear often throughout our history: Why does a Good, All-Powerful, All-Knowing God permit evil things to happen? And especially, why do they happen to my loved ones and me?
The prophet compares his fellow Israelites to gullible fish that are hooked or netted and hauled out of the sea. They cannot imagine what is happening to them, as they die suddenly and without explanation.
Many centuries later, in a far more sophisticated world, we still see these evil fishermen working the telephone and the Internet, phishing for social security numbers, bank account numbers, and health information. They interrupt our meals and pester us continually, hoping to catch us at a vulnerable moment. Clearly the government can do nothing about them despite our complaints. When they are pursued they slip out of the traps like oily eels; if they're caught they already have enough of our money to hire expensive lawyers who win light sentences for them. Even when they have destroyed the life savings of honest old people they feel neither regret nor remorse.
I'm sure we would all want to stand with Habbakuk and wait for the reply:
He receives an answer of sorts:
In today's first reading, the prophet Habakuk raises the question we hear often throughout our history: Why does a Good, All-Powerful, All-Knowing God permit evil things to happen? And especially, why do they happen to my loved ones and me?
The prophet compares his fellow Israelites to gullible fish that are hooked or netted and hauled out of the sea. They cannot imagine what is happening to them, as they die suddenly and without explanation.
Many centuries later, in a far more sophisticated world, we still see these evil fishermen working the telephone and the Internet, phishing for social security numbers, bank account numbers, and health information. They interrupt our meals and pester us continually, hoping to catch us at a vulnerable moment. Clearly the government can do nothing about them despite our complaints. When they are pursued they slip out of the traps like oily eels; if they're caught they already have enough of our money to hire expensive lawyers who win light sentences for them. Even when they have destroyed the life savings of honest old people they feel neither regret nor remorse.
I'm sure we would all want to stand with Habbakuk and wait for the reply:
I will stand at my guard post,and station myself upon the rampart,And keep watch to see what he will say to me,and what answer he will give to my complaint.
He receives an answer of sorts:
...the just man, because of his faith, shall live.
By faith we are saved. The answer, in the person of Jesus, is more beautiful, mysterious, unexpected, and complex. In today's gospel Jesus heals a possessed child by the power of his own faith, as he rebukes his disciples for their lack of faith.
Firstly, he tells us we must put our trust in God. Faith is not believing that God exists. Any chucklehead can do that. Faith is believing that God will save us and then acting upon that faith. As Saint James says, Faith without works is dead.
Secondly, Jesus' answer is the sacrifice of his own life. He walks with us through our doubts, confusion, and distress into Hell itself. If all he did was rebuke us for our lack of faith, and then ascend into heaven without a personal sacrifice, we could rightfully dismiss him as an impotent god. "Fine words but no action!" we might say.
But the Lord suffers with us and enjoys with us the vindication of Resurrection. As "Solomon" had predicted in the Song of Songs:
For Love is strong as Death,
longing is fierce as Sheol.
Its arrows are arrows of fire,
flames of the divine.
Deep waters cannot quench love,
nor rivers sweep it away.
If we cannot put our faith in unsolicited telephone calls, nor in the government that should protect us from people like that, we can put our faith in God. We have seen his mighty works; he will not abandon us.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.