First reading Baruch 1:15-22
We have been disobedient to the Lord our God
Integrity belongs to the Lord our God; to us the look of shame we wear today, to us, the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem, to our kings and princes, our priests, our prophets, as to our ancestors, because we have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God telling us to follow the commandments which the Lord had ordained for us. From the day when the Lord brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until today we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, we have been disloyal, refusing to listen to his voice. And so the disasters, and the curse which the Lord pronounced through his servant Moses the day he brought our fathers out of Egypt to give us a land where milk and honey flow, have seized on us, disasters we experience today. Despite all the words of those prophets whom he sent us, we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God, but, each following the dictates of his evil heart, we have taken to serving alien gods, and doing what is displeasing to the Lord our God.
Responsorial Psalm 78(79):1-5,8-9
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
O God, the nations have invaded your land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
They have handed over the bodies of your servants
as food to feed the birds of heaven
and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
They have poured out blood like water in Jerusalem;
no one is left to bury the dead.
We have become the taunt of our neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us.
How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever;
how long will your anger burn like fire?
Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us.
Let your compassion hasten to meet us;
we are left in the depths of distress.
O God our saviour, come to our help.
Come for the sake of the glory of your name.
O Lord our God, forgive us our sins;
rescue us for the sake of your name.
Gospel Luke 10:13-16
Anyone who rejects me rejects the one who sent me
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. And still, it will not go as hard with Tyre and Sidon at the Judgement as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell.
‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me; anyone who rejects you rejects me, and those who reject me reject the one who sent me.’
________________________________
Listen
“…we have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God…” (1st reading). The first reading is taken from the prayer of Baruch, known as the Prophet Jeremiah’s secretary. He lamented that His people now lived in exile. However, he did not blame God for all that they went through. He knew that it was the fault of the stubborn Israelites, who refused to listen and follow God’s ways that led them to be where they were. In today’s gospel, Jesus rebuked the surrounding towns for their narrow-mindedness. They appeared perfect in their external behaviours, but their hearts were closed to God.
Often, we think that God punishes us for our sins and takes delight when we suffer, but that is far from the truth. The reality is that God is love and never gets tired of speaking to our hearts and leading us to live a life that reflects His values of truth, justice and peace. Do we tend to silence the voice of God and choose to follow the voices of our pride and selfishness?
Reflective question:
Do I silence God?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
