The Irrevocable and the Inscrutable

Irrevocable . . . and inscrutable, two words from today's first reading that struck me and led me to consider or contemplate the beauty of God once again. This reading comes from a section of the Letter to the Romans that was introduced a few days ago, but which we have missed because of the intervening holy days we have been celebrating at the beginning of November. St. Paul is discussing his relationship with his fellow Jews who have not yet received the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God's call is irrevocable. In other words, the covenant that God made with the Israelites on Mt. Sinai cannot be abrogated. God will remain faithful to that covenant relationship and patiently waits for us to live up to the terms of that covenant. God's patience is remarkable. No matter how many times we turn away from God, the call to that covenant relationship will not be rescinded. Each time we return to God with contrition and sorrow for sin, God welcomes us back. St. Paul holds this out as a sign that God's will is for all to be saved.

God's way is inscrutable. How many times have we used "God's will" or God's way as an excuse for misdirected efforts? "Deus volt" (God wills it) was on the lips of the Crusaders and in the words of those who prosecuted others in the Inquisition. We know that it wasn't God's will but ours to participate in those efforts. It took thousands of years, but the Church has apologized for these events. Yet, have we learned from these difficult times? Aren't we still a little flippant in the way that we throw around the notion of God's will? Let's remember Paul's words the next time we do so. God's way is inscrutable. We need to test our understanding of God's will with the yardstick of God's irrevocable call, with God's patience. Perhaps we would be a little less impatient as we wait for all men and women to embrace the way of love. All too often, we have made our own will the measuring stick.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator