Decisions to serve

The trials of humanity come to mind today in reflection on the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The passage from the Second Book of Kings is described by Friar Jude Winkler as the story of the beginning of the end of the kings of Israel and Judah. The Babylonian ruler of the world, Nebuchadnezzar, is the significant player for God who is described as angry and jealous by the psalmist who appeals today for deliverance. Commentators on the Nebuchadnezzar article in the Jewish Encyclopedia declare the lesson to be that we had better follow the rules set by God or catastrophe follows. The question of who is deciding our fate and what are the consequences of our decisions come to mind. We are comfortable with situations where we are informed of the rules and we receive the reward when we follow the rules. The final kings of Judah, Friar Jude comments, chose rebellion against the Babylonian empire and political alliances with Egypt as a decision which brought the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar perhaps more than the wrath of God.  Angela Maynard considers Jesus advice in the Gospel from Matthew to build our houses on foundations of stone which is our decision to follow the Will of God which Friar Jude expresses as the transformation of our life and actions to reflect our faith in the direction we are invited to move by God. This decision to serve God is the choice which prepares us for the storms in life which threaten to wash away the foundation of those who choose to serve themselves. The Bob Dylan song “Gotta serve somebody” comes to mind. The decision and the consequences are both of our making.