Word to the Wise
Friday, July 9, 2010 - St. John of Cologne, O.P. and Companions, Martyrs
[Hosea 14:2-10 and Matthew 10:16-23]Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them. [Hosea]
The Book of Hosea ends with an admonition to wisdom, thus bringing two major scriptural realities together - prophecy and wisdom. God's ways are straight but those who are unwise cannot stay on the path. Israel chose to abandon the covenant and accepted the gods and religion of surrounding cultures. This led to corruption and injustice toward the poor and vulnerable as well as a weakening of the moral resolve of the entire culture. They were an easy target for the Assyrians. History remains a great teacher and our relatively young nation is impatient with the lessons. Religious faith was (and still can be) a major force in the success of the "American experiment." But the cultural forces of secularism, relativism, and consumerism are a constant threat to us all. These are not abstract straw enemies! Their influence is an everyday thing. The denial of life and sustenance to the poor and vulnerable is visible. The consignment of religious faith to a matter of private opinion (one is as good as another) removes all motivation for social justice. The importance of lifestyle makes appetite into a deity and buying becomes a religious act! The warnings of Hosea and the fall of Israel to the Assyrians in the 700's BC may be ancient history, but they are a present lesson to us all. AMEN
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