I thought I needed only be concerned about myself getting into heaven. I will be judged according to my deeds. Today’s readings awakened me to God’s judgments on big and small communities, from the nation of Ephraim to the small towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida. They were all subject to God’s just judgment. Were the individuals in those towns doomed to eternal damnation?
The stories in Genesis give us a clear answer to that question. For example, in Abraham’s conversation with the Lord on the fate of Sodom, for the sake of 10 innocent people, the Lord spared the city of Sodom for a time, and the Lord spared Noah and his family from the flood. At the first Passover, the Lord spared the innocent Jews in Egypt. And the Lord spares the city of Ninevah despite the desires of Jonah to punish the city.
We must do our part to spare our community from falling apart, starting with our parish community, neighborhoods, city, state, and nation. Saint Peter Eymard’s attention to the welfare of his community was his priority. He ministered to the many unskilled workers after the French Revolution and cared for their physical and spiritual needs. God took care to grant his desire to start the community of the Blessed Sacrament.
Our own physical and spiritual problems are complex enough to resolve. So, how do we become helpful citizens in our communities, nation, and the broader world? Jesus said to his apostles when they asked,” Who can be saved?” Jesus answered, “For human beings, it is impossible, but for God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:25). God in the risen Jesus is with us when we receive the Eucharist.
Prayer:
This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms: Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done. Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him, And hearts united learn to live as one. O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations; Myself I give thee, let thy will be done. (From Verse 3 of Georgia Harkness (1939) Tune: FINLANDIA, by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957).