Tuesday, July 7
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read that there is a time for building and a time for tearing down. There are groups of young people in our streets who believe this is a time for “tearing down.” Their first line of attack is directed at statues and names that betray racial prejudice. There is talk about their attention turning to the churches. This spirit of “anarchy” seems to be growing in our country.
We, of course, believe that God is on the side of civil order and that he is appalled, at what the anarchists are doing. Then we read today’s first reading (Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8,12) and wonder if God can also be an “anarchist.”
Hosea, picks up where the fiery Amos left off.
“Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant its fruit, the more altars he built; the more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up. Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt.”
Israel was amazingly prosperous—a thriving economy and abundance of food. So what did they do with this? They built more altars and more sacred pillars—to the gods of their day. Instead of helping the poor and offering fair wages to the farm workers, they chose to use their money to build unnecessary—even evil—buildings in their city. The poor were kept “on hold.” Israel hearts were set on their own pleasures, not on God. Enough, said God. It was time to pay this people for their guilt.
So what was God’s action plan?
“God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars. If they would say, ‘We have no king’—since they do not fear the Lord, what can the king do for them?”
God, “the anarchist,” started with the fancy altars and pillars; these were the first to go. Did he do this by sending an angel to do the work? No, he let a neighboring, more powerful nation, take care of the demolition work.
The people were frightened; they wanted God to give them a strong king to protect them from the Assyrians. Hosea reminded them that if they did not learn to fear the Lord, a new king would be useless. In fact, their present king would desert them.
“The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters.
With altars, poles, and king gone, what could this people do?
“Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
Their “religious activities” were a sham if they did not reap the fruit of repentance. A form of piety that ignored the just rights of the poor was a no value. It was time to break up “a new field,” or, as we say, “turn over a new leaf.” Instead of seeking a new king, Hosea told them to seek the Lord. If they did this, God would eventually come and set things in order for them.
We wonder about our own prosperous country. The more prosperity we’ve experienced, the more banks we’ve set up and the more entertainment opportunities we’ve launched. And what about our churches? Has the worship been lukewarm? Has our piety borne fruit? Have we allowed the crises of our time to be a call to repent– “turn over a new leaf” and to seek God more passionately?
“The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).
