Tension and transition

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary tell of tension in the communities for whom they were written. In Northern Israel at the time of Jezebel and Elijah, about 850 BCE according to Friar Jude Winkler, the population which had been about 50% pagan was being called by Elijah to reject the gods of Baal and accept the Lord as the one God. The calling down of lightning was the test through which Elijah demonstrated the power and presence of the Lord. He calls on the people to choose. History tells us that Israel moved at this time from attending to many gods where the Lord was the most important to the monotheistic belief of Judaism. Change and tension are partners. The Gospel from Matthew addresses the transition of followers of Jesus from being part of synagogue worship to being excluded from the synagogue and persecuted by the religious authorities. Friar Jude points out the tension in the description of the importance of the Law between Matthew, writing to Jewish converts in Jerusalem, and Paul preaching to Gentiles in Asia Minor and Europe. The demographics matter and the message addresses the lives of those to whom it is written. Do we have to choose a true message? The transition of the people of God to live in communities which are witness to the Presence of the Living God continues. Our choices and the gods of Baal in our world are still in tension. We can find inspiration in the Law, Prophets and through the indwelling Spirit which illuminates our efforts to understand with the Love and delight of the Divine living with us. Expect to deal with change.