Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

 Lectionary: 420

“My Lord, if the LORD is with us,
why has all this happened to us?
Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers
told us when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’
For now the LORD has abandoned us
and has delivered us into the power of Midian.”
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have
and save Israel from the power of Midian."

Gideon, a lad of a small family with few connections, was given a tall order. With little more than his courage he should call unarmed farmers to stand up against the warriors who frequently invaded their homes, stole their livestock and produce, burned their barns and fields, and kidnapped their women and children. God's people had foolishly adopted the Canaanite manner of life despite the stories which they'd heard from their ancestors. But if they expected to fit in and be accepted by the Canaanites, they were despised and exploited. 

Perhaps they told tales of Abraham, Moses, and Joshua to entertain their children, but they worshiped the bovine "spiritual princes of the air" -- i.e. pagan gods -- who were said to govern the Levant.  

It takes only one generation of neglect to lose one's heritage. Some people in the United States hope that South American immigrants -- who are mostly Catholic -- might bring their faith and "family values," and reverse current trends and population decline. But the evidence shows otherwise. Like every other generation of immigrants, their young, American-born women adopt the American lifestyle, delay marriage and bear few children. The young men work hard, build bank accounts, purchase homes, and entertain themselves with the manosphere, rather than marry and have children. 

The Scriptures assure us that God does not forget his chosen people. They will survive when every other religion, philosophy, language, tribe, and nation disappear. He watches over those who are born Jewish and those who are baptized into Christ. The Spirit remains in their families, calling them to fidelity and prayer. Failing that, there will be consequences: 

The Lord chastises those who are close to him in order to admonish them.” Judith 8:27

“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.” Hebrews 12:6

Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Revelation 3:19

If they fail to observe my statutes,

do not keep my commandments,

I will punish their crime with a rod

and their guilt with blows.

But I will not take my mercy from him,

nor will I betray my bond of faithfulness.

I will not violate my covenant;

the promise of my lips I will not alter.

By my holiness I swore once for all:

I will never be false to David. Psalm 89:32-36

We forestall the wrath that is to come with the virtue and practice of Penance. This "Old Testament" virtue is Judaism's great gift to Christians. (No other nation recalls and records its own sins, which is why they have endured for more than thirty centuries.) 

The Spirit of Penance with its Sacrament has been given in particular to Catholics. It reminds us of who we are, God's beloved sinners and penitent saints. As we recount our sins we recalls the favor God has shown us. In effect, we remember the unfinished, unwritten gospel of our lives. Most of us are on our way to Jerusalem with the Lord, though some may be undergoing their crucifixion already. We are bound for glory and, as the song says, this train don't carry no gamblers, midnight ramblers, jokers, and cigar smokers. 

Catholics thank God for the gift of Penance, and we especially thank God for the leadership of Jesus, for he is the First Penitent. Although he committed no sin, He carried his cross, and still reminds us to take up the cross of penance and walk in his Way.