JUDGMENT
BEFORE SALVATION
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this 18th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Judgment Before Salvation.”
I noticed that saying or slogan last night in a
commentary when reading up about today’s first reading from Jeremiah 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22.
I never heard that obvious message put that way till last
night: “Judgment Before Salvation.”
So I decided to explore it for a short thought or homily
for this morning.
All these years I mainly preached on the gospel, so these
last few years I have been looking at the first reading more.
OBVIOUS PROCESS
Diagnosis before prognosis.
X-rays and tests before surgery, pills, PT, or what have
you.
Cleaning the scrape or cut before putting on the
ointment.
Judgment before salvation.
JUDGMENT
Jeremiah as prophet
told it like it is. He didn’t like what he saw happening in his nation
Israel. They were following false gods.
They were not trusting in the God who had saved them in the past. They dropped
God.
Jeremiah’s time of being a prophet was some 40 years -
and it was a time of turmoil - fighting - destruction - ending up in exile.
Jeremiah announced consequences for sin - and following
false gods.
In today’s first reading from Jeremiah, Chapter 30,
Jeremiah uses the image or metaphor of wounds. He describes Israel having a
running sore - a wound - that won’t heal.
What I take out of this message from Jeremiah is that it
is a call to be honest and take a good look at our life on a regular basis.
It’s like going to the doctor’s for a check-up - to get a
diagnosis. In this case it’s to have a
judgment about the state of our soul.
SALVATION
I hear and see the words salve [ointment] and save in the
word “salvation”.
We have to know what needs to be healed - before we can
be healed.
Where does it hurt?
What needs to be healed?
Where do we have to change?
What’s the problem - so we can come up with the solution?
TWO QUESTIONS
This triggered for me two questions.
First: “Does Jesus sometimes simply avoid the judgment
part of this equation. In the Prodigal Son story there is no judgment just
salvation. The boy comes home - expecting judgment, but receives only welcome
and love.
There is a tradition of non-judgment in the scriptures
There is another tradition at times that there will be no
judgment.
Which will it be? So when we die, we’ll find out. Will we
come to the door or the Pearly Gates and find out there are no gates - just God
with open arms. Some people say or
express their thought, “I expect when I die to be simply welcomed into heaven.
Second question: is it better to have judgment - especially in the here and now? Is
it better to know what we’re doing that is stupid or hurtful?
Is it better for us to go through the struggle of overcoming
what’s killing us - what’s hurting us - and others - overcoming our sinfulness
or selfishness and then learning how to be less selfish and more generous and
loving - and becoming a better person here and now?
Step back: see all those people who have their list of
things they would like to see better in us.
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Picture on top: Judge Rohini