His protection is with us, his presence, which is love, is enduring, and his Word walks in the midst of us. What else could we possibly ask for from our God? Have our expectations become our new savior, or does he still sit at the throne of our hearts? 1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Jeremiah was written during the EXILE period within Judah (722- 538 BC). During this time the kingdom was in turmoil, and due to this unrest they; the chosen of God feel back to their idolatry. He was a follower of King Josiah’s reform which ended Josiah’s life in battle. Jeremiah later went on to council King Josiah’s son , Zedeikah. Jeremiah’s council was opposed, challenged and rejected numerous times, which lead to the eventual reverse Exodus of Judah (a fleeing back into Egypt), and saw God’s people lose their promise land to Babylon. Jeremiah remained faithful to God’s promise to him of protection. He was not popular for what he said, but he spoke a loving truth; which would fell on deaf ears. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Saint Paul is writing to the church of Corinth during a time of struggle. This church was only about five years established, since Paul founded it. Since Paul’s departure division, sexual immortality and denial plagued the Church. The City of Corinth is an ancient city polytheistic and hedonistic. It was a city of pleasure, an ancient depiction of a modern day Las Vegas. Paul writes to his church in spiritual counsel, but with a spirit of bold truth saturated in love. This popular “wedding reading” addresses Church who used their gifts carelessly. They exalted their gifts as things that can gain them; popularity, control, power, or even wealth. It was a reckless use of their gifts. So Paul addressed the root of the problem and returned them the nucleus of Christian teaching; love, which “never fails” Gospel: Luke 4:21-30 Luke is an author unlike the others of the New Testament writings. Luke is Gentile, and not a descendant of Abraham. Luke gospel has a central theme of universal salvation, which is evident in his account of Jesus’ interaction with his home town of Nazerth : “it was to none of these that Elijah in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian” In the Gospel of Luke Jesus teachings at the synagogue in Nazareth and tells them “today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Jesus gave his birthplace a bit of inside information, and their response was not as welcoming. In fact, it execalated quickly when Jesus reminded them of the mission of Elijah and Elisha and how they cured Gentiles. Elijah cured the son of the widow (1 Kings 17). Elisha cured Naaman, solider for King Aman who so happened to be at war with Israel (2 Kings 5). The words: “But in truth I tell you….Elijah was sent to none of them [Isreal] but only to Zarephath…And there were many lepers in Israel…and none of them cleansed but only Naaman” (v. 25-26), infuriated the crowd. The crowd who at one time “spoke well of him” (v. 22) was not plotting his death as they “rose up and put him out of the city…. that they might throw him down headlong” (v. 29) These readings speak volumes of history repeating itself. The first reading is a world of chaos and looming doom. The mouth piece of God, the Prophet Jeremiah, attempts to council to protect, and in return he is ignored. The second reading describes infancy of Christianity and its childish practice of their devotion. The Church allowed Corinth’s culture to latch on to the counter cultural life of Jesus. Finally, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus came forth with a message of love and hope, essentially revealing that he is the fulfillment and the embodiment of “good news to the power…release to the captives, recovering sight to the blind…liberty [to] those who are oppressed” (v. 18), and as the prophets of the old he was rejected. Don’t we all fall victim to this? We await the fulfillment of God’s presence in our lives, and when the solution is not what we expect we reject it, and never respond. Have we grown so comfortable in our lives, and our faith that we allow the culture of our times to dictate the pace of our faith. As the Church prepares itself for Lent, allow these reading to prepare our hearts for Lent as well. Let us not allow history to repeat itself. Let’s respond to God’s protection, his hope, and his love which will endure all things, and don't allow our expectations to reject God's will for our lives.
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AuthorOscar "Two Ten" Rivera is all about bringing the fire. Passionate, comedic, and driven to deliver the truth, the right way. Archives
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