In today's first reading, 2 Kins 17: 5-8, 13-15a, 18, we read about the consequences of the people of Israel having "venerated other gods," having "followed the rites of the nations whom the Lord had cleared out of the way of the children of Israel and the kings of Israel..." The people of Israel and of Judah were warned to give up their "evil ways and keep [God's] commandments and statues, in accordance with the entire law..." The people "did not listen, but were stiff-necked as their fathers, who had not believed in the Lord their God. They rejected...the warning which he had given them, till, in his great anger against Israel, the Lord put them away out of his sight. Only the tribe of Judah was left."
What, do you think, God is saying to us here in the 21st century? Are leaders of various nations throughout the world, are you, am I, venerating other gods"? Are we following precepts that are contrary to what God is asking of us? Are we involved in "evil ways," not listening, not heeding, any of the warnings that God is sending to us to alert us of being on a path that will lead, ultimately, to our downfall, to a disastrous end that could be avoided if we followed God's ways?
As in today's responsorial psalm, we pray: "Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us,...for worthless is the help of men." Help us, Lord, right the wrongs in which we are involved as a nation, as a society, as a church, as a family, as individuals. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen!
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