Fifteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time (Is. 10: 5-7, 13b-16) “Is God the Cause of Misfortune?”
The Prophet Isaiah, once again, predicts the destruction of the nation of Israel in the scriptures we read at Mass today. The country of Israel had divided into two nations after the time of King Solomon. There was the northern kingdom called Israel and the southern kingdom called Judah. The northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians.
The Assyrians had a reputation for being brutal. We could compare their military campaigns to what we see going on in Ukraine today. An occupying force always has two options. The conquering nation can leave a country intact and try to win cooperation from the people who already live in the country.
The other option for the nation that has more military power is that they can simply wipe out the people that they conquer. As we look at Russia’s tactics today, we see them leveling cities and chasing the native population of Ukraine out. After this operation is complete, new people are usually brought in to colonize the occupied territory. This will probably be the next Russian move.
This is what Isaiah is predicting for the people of Israel. And this is what came to pass. We could label this type of military tactic as genocide. The Jewish people have faced this type of brutality several times in their history. The Jews have been dispersed throughout the world several times, but their religion has survived.
We can ask why God’s chosen people were treated in such a way. We can also marvel at the fact that the Jewish faith continues to exist. As we read more of Isaiah, we will hear how he predicts not only the devastation of Israel, but he also predicts restoration. God will never completely abandon his people. God will never completely abandon us.
Reflection Questions:
Why did the Jewish people have to suffer so much? Is it worth being chosen by God when even the chosen endure suffering?
Did the Jewish people deserve such suffering? Does God punish people or does social sin result in misfortune?
Dear Parishioners,
The walls of our Gathering Space are slowly rising out of the ground. The contractors are not wasting any time. At the present time, fill is being brought into the site. We have found that the ground that the rectory was built on was very unstable. Before the rectory, that was torn down last summer, was erected there were two frame houses on the building sight. As we have dug down into the ground, we have found old foundations and even cinders from the old coal furnaces. In the 1950’s they were not too picky about how they prepared a building sight.
The foundations of the new building are being set solidly in the ground. As Jesus said we are trying to build on rock. Please pray for the workers we have on sight and for their safety. We should have a good facility when everything is complete.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for our troubled world.
Fr. Mark