First Sunday of Advent (“B”)
Q. 504: The prophet Isaiah seems to be “blaming” God for their own sin and guilt (Isaiah 63:16ff), letting them wander, and hardening their hearts. Why is this? (Return to INDEX page of "Didja Know?" series)
November 30, 2008
A. 504: God’s “kingdom kids” have wandered away from him and his covenant love. Not only did they engage in immoral and unethical activities, but more importantly, they had become lax and indifferent to their Father in heaven. Now they are anxious to come back home to their Father, and the Prophet Isaiah pleads their case for them.
The Jewish people of that ancient culture and religion believed that God was the cause of everything. They didn’t know why some things happened; but they truly believed that God was the cause of it all, for reasons known only to Him. Based on that belief, the prophets would refer to God as the “potter” and the people as the “clay.” Thus, you will hear them appearing to attribute to God all the bad things that are happening to them. However, this is not a “blame game.” Instead, it reflects a simple but strong belief in the power of the One God of the universe, and leads them to realize their own guilt and complicity in actions or inactions that led to their present consequences.
Are you one of the wandering “kingdom kids” who has gone astray in some way? Our good and gracious God grants us every opportunity to turn back to Him, to come back home to Him. He even gives us ample warnings, urging us to be ever on the alert (Mark 13:33-37) for the return of Jesus Christ, the Master. It will be sudden; it will be unexpected. So be prepared, and accept the Father’s invitation to “come home.” One only has to repent, change one’s ways, and be immediately reconciled that way with our heavenly Father.
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! “Vigilance” is a constant theme of Jesus, because the stakes are very high: eternal life (CCC #2848-9). We are not spared from this present time of the trial of evil; therefore we need to wait and be watchful (CCC #672).
Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha
(Go back to Deacon Paul's HOME PAGE)
