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     The author of the Book of Deuteronomy brings the Pentateuch (Torah) to an end with a kind of "review and renew" scene in which Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel after they have crossed the Jordan and reviews the history of their relationship with God.  This history showed that the Children of Israel were not always faithful to God but when convenient would adopt the local deities. This pattern of review and renew appears over and over in the Old Testament.  The prophets, e.g. Ezekiel 16 and Hosea 2, use the image of a promiscuous prostitute to describe the infidelity of the people!  In today's passage, Joshua makes it plain where he and his tribe stand.  The rest of the tribes swear that they will do the same, but history will show how fickle their faith could be.

     It is a good thing to occasionally "review and renew" one's commitment to any cause.  We do it all the time at patriotic events.  However, these events may have the unfortunate effect of becoming "local gods" that distract us from our primary commitment to Christ and Church.  The economy,  politics,  lifestyle,  career - these can all become local gods.  The purpose of "review and renew" is to determine how such things are shaping and distorting our primary commitment.  At the Final Judgment, we will not be held to account for our political, social, economic or patriotic views, but for how we have loved God and neighbor, especially the neighbor who was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned or a stranger in our midst. [Matt. 25:31-45]  If we are honest, we will find that we are much like the Children of Israel in the Old Testament and we must constantly review our situation and renew the commitment we have been called to make to Christ in baptism.  AMEN