Saturday, October 9, 2021

Memorial of Saint John Henry Newman

Lectionary: 466

Thus says the LORD:
Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit in judgment upon all the neighboring nations.


If I had to guess, I would suppose Joel invoked the Valley of Jehoshaphat in this passage to remind his readers and hearers of the astonishing victory King Jehoshaphat won in this place near Jerusalem. After learning of approaching armies who would certainly join forces and overwhelm the city, he pleaded for help from the Lord. On the day of their expected arrival he led the populace of the city out of the town toward the contested valley, and told everyone to watch what the Lord would do. Sure enough, the several armies fell on each other in a bloody contest and no one survived. Jerusalem was saved without lifting a finger! The LORD had sat in judgement on all the nations and destroyed those that attacked God's holy people. 

As Christians read passages like these from 2 Chronicles and the Prophet Joel we believe that the Church is the New Jerusalem which enjoys -- with the Jewish people -- the blessings and protection of God. We might be punished for our sins -- as we certainly have been during the current, ongoing priest pedophilia scandal -- but we accept these punishments as sure signs of God's mercy. As the Author of Hebrews reminds us, 

“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. 

We have seen Joel's prophecy fulfilled in a manner of speaking by the spreading of that pedophilia scandal from the Catholic Church to "other nations" like Scouting, college athletics, the military, the entertainment industry, and so forth. Despite the suspicion that fell on all priests in the first decade of this century, wiser heads knew the crime was not limited to the few thousand priests in the United States. It's roots run far deeper in the culture of shame, avarice, and chemical addictions. Nor was it only an American phenomenon. Tragically, no nation and no level of society is exempt. 

The ongoing epidemics of Covid, drug abuse, family violence, and suicide certainly are "punishing" and feel like punishment. I believe they are signs of God's mercy which demand our immediate and appropriate response. For another far worse punishment is pressing hard behind these and that is climate change. Already, this past summer, we saw 1260 North Americans (US and Canada) die of heat. Even some Republicans are beginning to see the obvious!

But Judah shall abide forever,
    and Jerusalem for all generations.
I will avenge their blood,
    and not leave it unpunished.
    The LORD dwells in Zion.

The Church will survive this dreadful time. No other city, state, or nation enjoys that assurance. The Word of God abides forever. 

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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.

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