2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

My dear parishioners,

God is Good!!!  All the time!!!  And all the time!!!  God is Good!!!

Baruch served as scribe to the great prophet Jeremiah. Like his prophet-mentor, Baruch would have seen firsthand the sad decline of the kingdom of Judah. Years of sin and ignorance led to exile for the people and the destruction of Jerusalem. But in the book that bears his name, Baruch says things have changed.  A repentant nation offers a sincere prayer, asking for God’s mercy (Bar 1:15—3:8). In this reading, the people hear God’s response.

Like a grieving mother, the city of Jerusalem once wore robes of mourning for her children far away in Babylon. Now Baruch invites the city to replace those drab robes with colorful festive garments. But these are no ordinary robes. They are of a spiritual fabric, exhibiting God’s glory. Such glory is always associated with the marvelous things God does for salvation. The return of God’s people from exile is certainly one such marvelous thing. Baruch further invites Jerusalem, wearing her fine robes, to look east. In the distance, she will see her children rejoicing as God leads them home.

Years earlier, the people were led away “on foot” to their place of exile. Now they are carried “aloft in glory” like kings and queens on elevated royal thrones. The road back to the Promised Land is level and smooth. God has removed the mountains and the depths, symbols of now-discarded human pride and ignorance. The people are much wiser than before; they look to God for security. They enjoy the protection of God, like shade from fragrant trees.

Today’s Gospel begins with a lengthy and somewhat awkward recitation of the names of political and religious leaders. A careful examination of the names and the locations with which they are associated manifests serious historical discrepancies. Lk, however, is not interested in the historical accuracy of his list. He is interested in setting a historical tone, a framework within which to hear and understand salvation history. The saving actions of God did not happen in a vacuum far removed from the religious and political life of the world. Salvation history is intimately connected with world history.

The person chosen to announce this advent of God’s saving activity was John the Baptist. His call came in the wilderness, the place of challenge and purification, the place where Israel had journeyed for decades before being allowed to enter the Promised Land. In many ways, this reference to the desert indicates a new beginning for a reconstituted Israel. John’s mission is to proclaim and administer a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is not the same as Christian Baptism, a rite of initiation administered by the Church. John’s baptism was an act of prophetic symbolism. It pointed to the reality of God’s forgiveness and a renewed allegiance to God’s will. Included in this was also a sense of urgency.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius