Most deep truth, most right thinking, is pretty simple — God is good. Creation is a wonderful mystery. Everything is connected. Healing is possible. Growth happens. Greed brings suffering. But even these truths need to be held gently…
Today Malachi picks up a theme that is present in Haggai and several other prophets. Our worship of God comes first, they tell us. Trust God and honor God appropriately as your primary obligation, and all other things will fit into place…
When our ancestors were illegal immigrants, the “nations” welcomed us and shared life-giving food with us. Native and immigrant sat down together; “pagan” and Christian broke bread in thanksgiving and peace.
Today’s readings are like one of those chilly, overcast days when it looks like it will be cloudy all day and the rain threatens to come at any moment. I know that above the clouds the sun shines with steadfastness. I know that there will be another day with light and warmth. But on those gray days that seep into the bones, you have to set your jaw and move ahead with determination, doing what needs to be done.
When I was growing up, faith was mostly about belief — “faith” was to assent to a particular content with your belief. That is not what faith is in any of these stories, or in most of the Bible.
An impatient farmer is an oxymoron. Farmers plant and wait. They will remove weeds and augment with fertilizer. But ultimately they must wait for the mystery of growth. Growth happens.
In some sense, the scriptural witness gives us the same freedom as life itself. Here we have two catastrophes. Both are interpreted as acts of judgment upon a sinful people. In one the prophet mourns; in the other, there is rejoicing.
We are called to be faithful lovers — to show steadfast love and attention to our God, and not to allow ourselves to be tempted by the lures of that which would distract our love. The description of the whore is pretty cinematic. It is an apt metaphor for the lure of wealth, fame, celebrity, power, extravagance and luxury. These are the things of spiritual adultery. These are great temptations in our own empire.
It is a nice thing to read Psalm 72 on the morning after an election.
Our heart’s most comprehensive vision shows us that all is gift — blessing. And, in response our heart’s most spontaneous action is thanksgiving — blessing.
But here my …question arises. What if I cannot recognize the given as a blessing?