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| Collect of Mary Mother of Mercy |
Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has freed you from the law of sin and death.
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has freed you from the law of sin and death.
Reading the Bible, and the Old Testament in particular, can be a disturbing experience. Much of what happens in the Bible sounds very familiar; many of its violent stories of punishment, revenge, and utter destruction read like stories out of Gaza, Ukraine, or major cities in the United States.
The prophet Ezekiel remarked upon these similarities between his prophesies and popular reaction when, speaking to Egypt through Ezekiel, God said:
I will trouble the heart of many peoples when I bring you captive among the nations, to lands you do not know. I will fill many nations with horror; their kings will shudder at you, when I brandish my sword in their faces. They will tremble violently fearing for their lives on the day of your fall. (Ez 32:9-10)
Hearing of divine judgment and wrath, conscious of our sins, and less than reassured of our standing in God's presence, we wonder if disasters like a falling tower in Siloam, or a collapsing bridge in Baltimore Harbor might signify God's anger against the victims, their city, or nation. Autocrats frequently erase opponents and arbitrarily arrest people suspected as terrorists, drug dealers, or illegal immigrants. Can anyone safely assume they will never fall victim to the coming wrath?
In today's Gospel Jesus speaks of natural and man-made catastrophes, reassuring his listeners that the victims were not the worst of sinners and were not punished for whatever wrong they might have done. But then he warns them that something worse might fall upon you "if you do not repent." In this sermon, he does not intend to assure them of anything except that the judgment near is near, so use your time well!
That tension between divine reassurance and divine threats is a constant in our faith. We do not want to take God for granted but we do want to know God's assuring love. We want to please God continually but we know as C S Lewis said, "God is easily pleased but never satisfied."
Nor should we be satisfied with what we have done already. Given the talents we have, with the energy and opportunities that were there, we could have done better. I often turn to that old song "Just as I am without one plea except my Lord has died for me."
We come before God with that plea, and that hope and let God be our Savior and our judge.
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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.