Reflections Blog

“He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.  – Jeremiah 22:16

It sounds so simple:  defend the cause of the poor and the needy—that’s all we need to do to “know God.”   But Jeremiah goes further:  knowing God is not just an intellectual construct.  It means acting on our knowledge and demonstrating our love for God in the way we treat our fellow sisters and brothers.

The Bible is full of examples of those who “knew” God as demonstrated by their actions.  One of my favorites is the story of Abraham and his hospitality toward the three strangers who stopped at his tent in the desert.  Hospitality customs were a vital part of the culture of the ancient world.  People followed these customs as formal, even sacred, codes of conduct.

Abraham is portrayed as lavishly fulfilling these social obligations, going beyond what might be expected of him in simply providing food and water for the travelers.  He eagerly ran to meet them and lavishly welcomed them.  He provided them with water to wash their dusty feet and a place to rest.  He ordered an elaborate  meal to be prepared for them and when they left, he traveled with them a short distance “to start them on their way.”

The code of hospitality in the Middle East was so strong that it evoked a warning: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2).

Every time I see a man standing in the traffic heading for Lake Shore Drive begging for money for food, I wonder if he is an angel sent to remind me what I need to do to know God.

Today’s prayer from Lessser Feasts & Fasts reminds me of something St. Augustine said, “Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.”

As if that’s not enough, today’s prayer says there’s another reason to let go of resentment and to forgive, “…that we ourselves may be able to receive your forgiveness.”

At the beginning of this spiritual journey we talked about being changed people.  One way we can be changed during this Lenten season is to stop holding on to times when people wronged us, failed us,  or otherwise didn’t live up to our expectations…and to forgive them.  Maybe then we’ll find the grace to allow God’s forgiveness to seep into our own lives and start living joyously as people who have experienced God’s grace and forgiveness ourselves.

“Here I am; send me.”

What an amazing response!  Unhesitating, almost jubilant.  Oh, that we would respond to God’s call to each of us in the same way!

A call is often unexpected and can come in many different forms and situations.  Sometimes we try to ignore it, especially when we see the action required as too difficult.  But the spirit of God will keep reminding and prodding us until we respond to the question that has no answer – except the one Isaiah gives:  “Here am I; send me”.  This is what I was divinely created to be and do.

Isaiah was a witness to God’s power, first as an observer, then as a prophet.  We are called to be God’s witnesses by what we see in our world and by what we do in our world.

As Christians,  what we are called to declare to the world is that the last are first, the least are the greatest, and the greatest among us is a servant.  And we are likewise called to do as Jesus did:  feed the hungry, heal the sick, visit the prisoner.

How has God called you to be his witness?  His prophet?