Responsible when we hear

The question of why we miss the message comes to mind from reflection on the texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Prophet Jeremiah compares the state of Jerusalem in his time with the people who had fallen in love with the Lord in the desert. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the desert was the place where the Israelites depended completely on God. The biblical record indicates that they were more often attentive to the Word spoken to them as they journeyed with God. The promised land brought them fertility for their crops and some independence from God for all their needs. In this state they became more attentive to self satisfaction and recognition of other gods and practices to support their progress. Friar Jude poses the question to our time about the empty cisterns from which we try to draw water for life. Many of our “self help” social practices resonate with attention to the fertility gods of Baal. The socio political structures bring poverty and despair to many and we continue to war with our brothers and sisters over the resources of the world. Charlie Wester brings up many of the day to day opportunities we have to exercise our faith muscles in our relationships with others. The responsibility of the Prophet in our Judeo Christian heritage is to be the mouthpiece of God. Jesus is taking steps in the Gospel of Matthew to ensure that the Word is heard by the people. This method is by the use of parables which are within the capability of most to hear and process. This is, Friar Jude notes, part of Jesus desire that we take responsibility for developing our knowledge and understanding of our intimate personal relationship with God beginning with stories we can hear and leading to the revelation of mysteries which all humanity has been struggling to know in communion with God. What Jesus gives in the parables is not the complete experience. It is the start to our expectation that revelation is the fruit of continuous communion with God through the Spirit.