Baruch 1:21-22
For we did not listen to the voice of the LORD, our God, in all the words of the prophets he sent us, but each of us has followed the inclinations of our wicked hearts, served other gods, and done evil in the sight of the LORD, our God.
It seems to have been a record year so far for hurricanes. All of us here in the bay area and across the south have been touched in some way by one of the big storms. It was only last month that we were getting ready for the storms to hit. We were making our preparations and many of us found that we were running out of time. Some of us didn't know what we should do. The mindset of many fell to, "well, what's going to happen is going to happen. I just hope I did enough."
Both today's Gospel and Old Testament readings give us pause to really think about our lives and where we put our priorities. The prophet Baruch lays into the people saying that we have misguided our efforts putting our trust and work into the wrong areas. Even Jesus calls out the people in Luke's gospel exclaiming, "Woe to you Chorazin, Woe to you Bethsaida!" He was calling them out for their unfaithfulness and disobedience, and even told them of their punishment.
The fact is, our God has unconditional love and mercy, but we have to show God our love and respect. We still have a chance to redeem ourselves, but it takes discipline and effort. Are you willing to answer, or is Jesus going to say, "Woe to YOU?"
