Daily Retreat 08/17/09
2009 Aug 17 Mon:Ordinary Weekday
Jgs 2:11-19/ Ps 105(106):34-35. 36-37. 39-40. 43ab and 44/ Mt 19:16-22
From today’s readings: “Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers, who led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.... Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.... If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me....”
The Vicious Cycle
Many of us Christians have very little familiarity with the Old Testament, especially since numerous passages are difficult to understand, or are just plain ponderous reading! If you’ve never really “gotten into” reading the Old Testament, consider trying the Book of Judges - it’s juicy, dramatic, exciting, and even occasionally familiar (not to mention a bit gory at times!). Some highlights will be presented in the next few days, but since the lectionary cycle of readings skips a lot, I encourage you to read the whole book!
This book is toward the beginning of the Bible, right after the Book of Joshua, and basically starts where Joshua leaves off - after the Israelite conquest and settlement of the land of Canaan. Understandably, this was a time of “getting settled” - there wasn’t very much routine or certainty about anything. The book of Judges reports, however, that a certain routine did get established: the cycle of disobeying the Lord by turning to false gods, consequential disasters, realization of the need for repentance, and help from God in the form of a “judge.”
Today, we think of a judge as a public official who deliberates on a legal case and passes a sentence of justice, but the judges mentioned in this book of the Bible, however, have the more difficult task of doing themselves whatever it takes to restore justice and righteousness (which usually means ridding the land of an oppressive invader!).
This all makes for not only thrilling history, but also instructive history. Whether as individuals, families, or nations, we continue that same cycle: first we turn away from God, then we suffer consequential problems, finally we realize the need for repentance, and inevitably, help from God comes just when we need it the most! Ideally, reading the book of Judges will help us learn a bit from mistakes of the past....
Jgs 2:11-19/ Ps 105(106):34-35. 36-37. 39-40. 43ab and 44/ Mt 19:16-22
From today’s readings: “Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers, who led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.... Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.... If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me....”
The Vicious Cycle
Many of us Christians have very little familiarity with the Old Testament, especially since numerous passages are difficult to understand, or are just plain ponderous reading! If you’ve never really “gotten into” reading the Old Testament, consider trying the Book of Judges - it’s juicy, dramatic, exciting, and even occasionally familiar (not to mention a bit gory at times!). Some highlights will be presented in the next few days, but since the lectionary cycle of readings skips a lot, I encourage you to read the whole book!
This book is toward the beginning of the Bible, right after the Book of Joshua, and basically starts where Joshua leaves off - after the Israelite conquest and settlement of the land of Canaan. Understandably, this was a time of “getting settled” - there wasn’t very much routine or certainty about anything. The book of Judges reports, however, that a certain routine did get established: the cycle of disobeying the Lord by turning to false gods, consequential disasters, realization of the need for repentance, and help from God in the form of a “judge.”
Today, we think of a judge as a public official who deliberates on a legal case and passes a sentence of justice, but the judges mentioned in this book of the Bible, however, have the more difficult task of doing themselves whatever it takes to restore justice and righteousness (which usually means ridding the land of an oppressive invader!).
This all makes for not only thrilling history, but also instructive history. Whether as individuals, families, or nations, we continue that same cycle: first we turn away from God, then we suffer consequential problems, finally we realize the need for repentance, and inevitably, help from God comes just when we need it the most! Ideally, reading the book of Judges will help us learn a bit from mistakes of the past....
posted by FrPitstick | 8/13/2009
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