Word to the Wise
Thursday, March 15, 2007 - Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
[Jeremiah 7:23-28 and Luke 11:14-23]This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed......This is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.
The last line of that lament from Jeremiah really packs a punch. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech. There are so many ways I can see this in the secular value system that has taken hold of our American individualistic society. Despite many admirable and ethical qualities in the American character, the newspapers everyday seem to carry a new story of a public servant or corporate CEO who has been charged with betraying his or her trust. Other news carries the latest lawsuit by the ACLU or others to stop religious faith from having any public voice under the guise of "separation of church and state." The real irony is that religion is now being protected by the "freedom of speech" clause, and even that protection is limited. I have in mind the funny story of the valedictorian who was warned not to mention God in her speech. So she goes up to the microphone and "sneezes" and all the audience roars, "GOD BLESS YOU!" Is "faithfulness" losing its meaning? Does it mean only adherence to the American civil/secular creed? As long as we're good citizens we're "faithful?" Is all religion banished to the "relativism" bin? Strangely, most Americans identify themselves as believers in God or "spiritual people." Megachurches abound. We still profess "one nation, under God..." (a phrase that is under attack constantly). As long as "faithfulness" has no public impact, we let religion be a thing "between a person and his/her God." Faithfulness disappears from official and public discourse except from the pulpit and radio talk/show and EWTN. Yes, faithfulness is banished from our speech in so many ways. Jeremiah, where are you? AMEN
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