2 Chronicles 24:20 ” Then the spirit of God clothed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: “Thus says God, Why are you transgressing the LORD’s commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.”
I am not sure if I am speaking for you the reader or just myself. There are times in my life when I have felt abandoned. In no-way is this a pleasant feeling but, praise God, only temporary.
Sin is when we abandon God. That must be hard for Him because He loves us. Thankfully, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Just like in Zechariah’s time, we as a people do not listen sometimes. This is not just following the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) . It is about loving one another and seeking the Kingdom of God in our daily lives.
Let me tell you of an experience that I had this week when I abandoned the Lord . Florida is hot and humid in the summer. Even a healthy person can get heat stroke and get dehydrated in a short amount of time. As I was waiting at a bus stop, a man and a woman approached me and asked if I had any spare change. One thing I noticed was the woman was wandering from side to side as she walked. This is a sure sign of the beginning of heat stroke. With debit cards today I carry little if any money but, as it happens, I did have a dollar in my wallet but I said, “no”. Then I regretted it, but I did not chase after them and to give them the money. Pan-handlers are all around us and Jesus said the poor will be with you always, but I should have given the money to them. I did not need it. It was so obvious a moment of grace but I closed the door. It did not matter whether It was obvious that they needed help. That dollar could have purchased a cool drink at a convenience store.
As a people we listen to the Sunday sermon or read reflections like ” A Catholic Moment “and we say yes, yes to the instruction but only come out of Church with no, no in our actions. Jesus says today from His Sermon on the Mount Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
At what point will God abandon us as a people?
Jesus answers this question as He continues in Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
I have so many mixed feelings about this passage. Fine, I say why should you worry. You are God ! Then I try to take that thought back because Jesus answers my silly thoughts right away when He gives us the answer in Matthew 6: 31-34 “So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
Life is not about the being obsessed with the cares of the world, but in all things to address the evils of this world by seeking the Kingdom of God in our daily lives and depend on God for the rest. Still, we have to do our part. We have to look at the world and say how will I today try to make this world a better place. There are opportunities everywhere, but we have to be open to them.
Just like my own example, I missed an opportunity to eliminate the evil of human suffering of two people in distress. My prayer is that by seeking the Kingdom of God in my own life that I my seek only one master in everything I do.
Please pray for immigrants and families throughout the world. May God not abandon us for our mistakes and our lack of love and compassion.
God Bless
Bob Burford
