JUDGMENT 

BEFORE SALVATION

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 18^th 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