Word to the Wise
Saturday, July 23, 2016 - Saturday in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jer 7:1-11 and Matt 13:24-30]SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 SATURDAY IN THE SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [Jeremiah 7:1-11 and Matthew 13:24-30] "Reform your ways and you deeds, so that I may remain with you in this place. Put not your trust in the deceitful words: 'This is the temple of the Lord! The temple of the Lord! The temple of the Lord.' Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you deals justly with his neighbor; if you no long oppress the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow......[Jeremiah] I think the closest we in our day can come to understanding the importance of the temple in Jeremiah's day is to look at our understanding of the tabernacle in our churches. The temple for Jews in Jeremiah's time was the residence of God on earth. The special room in the center of the temple complex was called the "holy of Holies." The temple gave them a sense of security - "God is on our side." Jeremiah stands at the front of the main gate and yells at those coming in that going to make sacrifice or pray will do them no good if they fail to do justice and to care for the poor and oppressed, the widows and the orphans. Imagine how we would feel if someone did that in front of the parish church on Sunday! Jeremiah's challenge is meant for us, too. We can get smug about the tabernacle, or begin to think that our faith is sacramental only. What we do before the tabernacle has to be founded on a life of love of neighbor as well as love of God. Empty worship is worse than no worship at all. Jeremiah may make us uncomfortable, but his discomfort is small compared with what we may ultimately face. AMEN