Now and forever

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider consequences of the decisions we make in our relationships with others. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the frustration of Jeremiah as he tries to convince the people of Judah that the help which they hope will come from alliance with Egypt against Babylon is a false hope. Our tendency to be hopeful and expect our difficult situations to be resolved through deals and promises from others who are committed to their own welfare and success is dangerous. The certainty in life is found in the steadfast love of God. Our trust in the Trustworthy One will sustain when the difficulties of life loom large. Even from the midst of turmoil, the person rooted in trust in God bears fruit like the tree planted near the riverbed as reference by Jeremiah and the psalmist. The consequence of our pursuit of self in competition and accumulation of excessive wealth may be a situation like that of the rich man in the parable from the Gospel of Luke. The images of consolation and feasting at the heavenly banquet for Lazarus are contrasted by the isolation, separation and desperation of the rich man. The thought that these consequences are experienced after death does not bring the full impact of the message for today. A comparison to Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” may be more apt. The isolation of Scrooge, and his redemption, is in this life. The peace of Cratchit and his reward are also before death. Luke warns us that even the Resurrection of Jesus may not be enough of a witness to open the eyes of people to consider the eternal consequences of the chains they built in life.