Impulsive or Reflective Living: The Consequences

Today’s first reading, Judges 11: 29-39a, was very disturbing to me when I first read it. Jephthah vows to the Lord that, if He delivers the Ammonites into his power, he will sacrifice to the Lord whoever comes out of the door of his house to meet him on his return. His only child, a daughter, so excited over her father’s military victory, comes out playing the tambourines and dancing. In anger, I ask: How can anyone make such an impulsive, rash decision in the name of God! As I prayed over the Scriptures, the thought came to me that rash, impulsive decisions are carried out every day in the name of God, of religion, even when falsely perceived as right and just, as obligatory. Such actions are common even to this day. Human lives are sacrificed daily and persons are harmed by any one of us acting impulsively, rashly, as we glory in ourselves and our accomplishments, as did Jephthah. These actions may be as “small” as entertaining gossip, raising ourselves above others by “having fun,” “fitting in,” at the expense of another. Though not as tragic as was Jephthah’s vow, such behaviors still affect us and others in negative ways. And so all of us come before the Lord in humble repentance, asking for mercy and forgiveness and the courage to live reflectively instead of impulsively.