In Good Times and Bad. In Sickness and in Health
Have you ever been to a car show? Or a boat show? Or an RV show? They are amazing events. You are surrounded by many, many like-minded people who are into whatever pastime that is being represented by the show. There are accessories, parts, tools, and models of the latest vehicles getting ready to grace the showroom floor. It can seem like a carnival at times. The same can be said for motorcycle shows. I was able to fully accessorize my first adventure motorcycle at the International Motorcycle Show in Chicago several years ago. Later I was asked by the organization that develops the routes I often ride to help represent them at this show. I was honored.
While working the show I noticed several tour companies advertising their services to the attendees. One of the companies was from Vietnam. And they were promoting one of their tour rides in Vietnam. There was also a company that ran tours through Germany. I also know people will travel on tours to Japan and it is not unusual for world motorcycle travelers to pass through Russia (though not as much as before the conflict with Ukraine). Elise and I will be riding a tour next fall through Germany, Austria and Italy.
Do you notice any consistencies with these trips? Yup. We were at war in all these countries sometime during the 20th Century. And now? Tourism. They each have been popular places to go to vacation. Can you imagine if those who fought in World War II were told that someday we would be sunning ourselves on the beaches of Japanese held islands in the South Pacific. Or we would be driving down the Autobahn in Germany. Or spending our holiday riding through the backroads of Vietnam on a motorcycle. Time certainly moves on and what was once thought unimaginable can come true.
In today’s first reading from the book of Wisdom we hear a retelling of the account of the Exodus from Egypt by the Israelites. The 10th plague on the Egyptians…the killing of the first born, in response to Pharoah’s killing of the sons of the Israelites. Except for the salvation of baby Moses. We also hear the description of Pharoah’s army drowning in the Red Sea as God opens the waters for the children of Israel and has it close up on the Egyptian army. And the Israelites rejoice of God’s providence in saving them.
Fast forward and we have the book of Wisdom being written to the Jews that are inhabiting Alexandria, Egypt. The book was written around the year 50 BC and the Jews were living in freedom in the very place that 1400 years earlier their ancestors were enslaved by the Egyptians. But were they really free? The reason this book was written to these Jews in Alexandria was because they had begun to practice pagan worship. Drifting away from the teachings of the God that led them out of Egypt all those centuries before. The plagues in Egypt, the pillar of fire, the dividing of the Red Sea, water from the rock in the desert, manna, quail for food, protection from their enemies and, not the least of all, the Law given to Moses on Sinai.
Were they really free? The sin that they had found themselves in, the worshipping of pagan idols, enslaved them spiritually. They had separated themselves from the God of their Fathers. Life was apparently good in Alexandria and it became easy for the Jews here to forget the guidance God provided in His law to keep them on the right road…the narrow road that leads to salvation. Don’t we see this today. When times are good. When we are financially secure. Free from attacks by enemies. We lose interest in God and lose our belief in Him and our faith in His works. Essentially we get the idea that we no longer need God. We got this on our own.
50 years later Christ arrives on the scene in Bethlehem. He gives a view of the Father and makes it very clear what we are to do to be saved and enter into eternal life with Him. He does not force us. He gives us the same choice that he gave the Israelites in Egypt, in the desert, in the land of Canaan and back in Egypt many years later. To believe that our salvation, our true freedom, lies with following God’s word as simplified by Jesus in the Gospels:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39)
All the rest is just commentary. Whether in the jungles of Southeast Asia or on the plains of Nebraska. In war or in peace. During financial prosperity or during famine. God is waiting for us to return to Him…and live.
