My friends, as we reflect on today’s readings from Deuteronomy, Paul to the Corinthians, the psalmist in #95, and Jesus’ words and actions from the Gospel of Mark, along with the state of our world at present, it seems that the almost, imploring words of our Loving God through the psalmist are most appropriate: “Oh that today you would hear God’s voice,” – “to harden not your hearts.” 

   I was, as I’m sure you were, appalled and sickened, reading about the new and previously untried form of execution used this past Thursday in the state of Alabama on a death-row inmate named Kenneth Smith.  Those involved with power to do the deed nearly promised that it would be “quick and painless,” but as we know, it was neither!  It would seem that we all are better than this from the U.S. Supreme Court, that refused the stay of this execution, on down.  The psalmist today implores us, “Harden not your hearts.” 

   In the Middle East, in the Gaza Territory, the United Nations stopped short of saying that what the Israelis are doing there is “genocide,” and thus the psalmist’s words again challenge the world, all of us, “to harden not our hearts.” For me, it is hard to fathom how the people of Israel, after the genocide their own people suffered at the hands of the Nazis cannot see that they are now doing the same. 

   Our own country has seemingly chosen “to harden our hearts,” through the actions and rhetoric of many in the halls of our Congress who choose vindictiveness and an unwillingness to work together for the good of all in our country, realizing that no one “gets everything they want,” but by working together, each opposing side can get “some of what they want.”  And this is to say nothing about simply, on the parts of some, acting like human beings toward each other.  When many in this country allow the voice of one individual who consistently, as another has said, “Goes low,” to speak for them, they have, “hardened their hearts!”

   The Scripture readings for today from Old and New Testaments, speak of “prophets coming,” and that they will speak, “with authority,” [the message that our Loving God wants us to hear and act upon].  Deuteronomy says that the prophet “will come from among your people.”  Now because we believe that the Spirit is “continually renewing the face of the earth,” we must believe that “prophets” are continually being called forth, now, in our time. 

   So, how will we know these prophets?  Jesus’ words are instructive here – “by their fruits!”  In my 50+ adult years, reflecting on what Jesus meant, I have been well-served by the wisdom that when the gifts of love, mercy, justice, peace, and other traits along this vein are present, God is there, and will give that prophet the words that God wants spoken.  And likewise, when vindictiveness, injustice, basically, a lack of love are present, God is not there!

   Overall, I would say, in addition to the other positive traits that should tell us that, “this is of God,” peace of heart and mind should be there too!  But let me be clear – this does not mean that the life of the prophet will necessarily be easy, even if they realize the gift of peace within.  We only need look to Jesus, Pope Francis, and all the committee members of the January 6^th Commission, as examples, who spoke “truth to power” to be sure of this.  John Lewis spoke prophetically of his work when among us, as, “good trouble,” which lets us know that for so long, what he had to say was not always accepted, which made it much harder.

   So my friends, when we reflect on trying to make a difference in our world, where so much seems to not be right, when people the world over seem to choose the basest reasons for how to respond to what, “life basically brings their way,” we must, simply must, realize that we are so much better than the evil we see, and rise above it! 

   I saw a news piece recently that was of a man who had experienced a great deal of adversity in his life and in the past had blamed others for the life he was now living, until he finally, one day, said to himself, “I am who I am because of the choices I have made, and I am now making other choices!” 

   The 2^nd reading today from Corinthians has Paul telling the people that basically, they can be closer to God if they are unmarried (Paul’s state) because they can then have more time, “to be with God” and more quickly respond to others, unencumbered by a spouse and family. As someone else has said, “While that may be true, being “unmarried” doesn’t guarantee that the “extra time” will be used to, “be with God,” or that such an individual will respond more quickly to the needs of others.”  I would suggest that here, we are being given a black and white response, and a very narrow view of how we can respond to our Loving God, and to our world—for God is present in all the “spouses and families” that Paul seems to think are getting, “in the way.” 

   When I think of the “Face of God” that I have seen in so many caregivers of spouses, friends, and family members, I know that our God had more in mind than that the only way to bring that relationship with the Source of All Being into play was to go it alone, unattached—there is a place for both!

   Giving Paul a bit of a break though, he was in a hurry to get folks on the right track, so to speak, as he and many other followers of what they called, Jesus’ “Way,” thought he was returning sooner rather than later, and must be ready. 

   Finally today friends, just a few words about Jesus’ actions with the demoniac from Capernaum in today’s gospel.  As exegetes have told us, we certainly see Jesus’ “authority” as he acted, seemingly without fear to help the poor man afflicted, by expelling the evil one from him. 

   As we reflect on this, most of us probably think that we never experience anything like this in our lives and could never do the same.  Here, I would suggest that whenever we see something evil in our world, and we try to do whatever we can—listen to a lonely friend, or stranger, make a call—write a letter to a power able to make some change—letting them know that “we are watching,” we have done so much, “to expel the demons.”  Sometimes “our words” at a particular time are what someone else needed to make a change in their lives.  Someone once said, “the weaknesses we see in others are openings for God to enter in,” and again, as Amanda Gorman said, “if we can be the light that is needed.  Amen? Amen!