Thoughts which lead me to Jesus and to the Cross

“I will put an end in Moab to those who make offerings at her places of worship. I will put an end to those who sacrifice to other gods. I, the LORD, affirm it! So my heart moans for Moab like a flute playing a funeral song. Yes, like a flute playing a funeral song, my heart moans for the people of Kir Heres. For the wealth they have gained will perish.” (Jeremiah 48:35–36, NET)

“Yet in days to come I will reverse Moab’s ill fortune.” says the LORD. The judgment against Moab ends here.” (Jeremiah 48:47, NET)

It grieved him when brothers sought learning while neglecting virtue, especially if they did not remain in that calling in which they were first called.

Christ’s death and resurrection, faith and love, are old and just ordinary things; that is why they must count for nothing, and so we must have new flatterers (as St. Paul says). And this serves us right since our ears itch so much for something new that we can no longer endure the old and genuine truth, “that we accumulate,”f that we weigh ourselves down with big piles of new teachings. That is just what has happened and will continue to happen.

The pastor understood their frustration. But their response was also an encouragement. He recognized one of the unique characteristics required of a pastor—perhaps a sign of the pastoral gift—is a willingness to love people even when they initially rebuff that love. The two accountants did not possess that willingness.

I would have thought that after 45 years of studying the scriptures, after nearly thirty years of teaching and preaching about the love of God, which desires to have a relationship with people, I would fully grasp how much He cares for us.

And then I come across a passage I have read 30?40? times, and am in awe of how bizarre God is.

The people that betrayed Him, more than perhaps any people are under discussion in the two passages above. Both Moab, and the Jewish people, who though thoroughly warned, fell into the same idolatry as Moab.

It’s not pretty!

Anyone who worshipped at their altars, anyone who shared in their idolatry, who served other gods, are going to have an end put to them.

And God hates it.

It rips his heart out to see them come ot where they are, and to receive the punishment they have chosen.

Just like Francis grieves when his people set aside God for “learning”, especially when they set aside Jesus and their vocation pursuing some kind of knowledge at the expense of their faith. Or the innumerable pastors and church leaders who get frustrated by those why reject them – and more importantly the peace and healing offered through scripture.

Yet God is bizarre, even as He groans over the fate they have chosen, has plans to end the judgment against them… and did so at the cross. That’s what the good pastor holds out for, and reveals to His people, a God who cares, who worked for the good of those who betrayed Him, who loved those who rebelled, and who promised to work to make everything right between them.

This is bizarre…

This isn’t normal…

Yet, it is so wonderful to know God cares that much, even for Moab….

Even for us.

Pasquale, G., ed. (2011). Day by Day with Saint Francis: 365 Meditations (p. 254). New City Press.

Robinson, P. W. (1539). On the Councils and the Church. In H. J. Hillerbrand, K. I. Stjerna, T. J. Wengert, & P. W. Robinson (Eds.), Church and Sacraments (Vol. 3, p. 403). Fortress Press.

Shelley, M. (1986). Helping those who don’t want help (Vol. 7, pp. 30–31). Christianity Today, Inc.; Word Books.