Turning Against God

Our first parents chose to turn their backs on God rather than follow Him in The Garden. The ancient Jews turned their backs on God when they didn’t like the message of the prophets. We turn our backs on God every time we choose our agenda ahead of God.

We may not want to admit it, but every time we reject God’s commandments, we turn our backs on Him. Like Eve, who turned her back to God and entered into dialogue with the serpent, we turn away and look for something we prefer. We don’t exactly reject Him. We turn away from Him.

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

Matthew 23.29-39

Today’s Gospel lesson is a reminder of the history of the People of God turning their backs on Him. It didn’t stop with Adam and Eve. It didn’t stop with killing the Prophets. It didn’t stop with killing Christ. Even today, even after our morning prayers, we turn our backs on Him.

Maybe we think, “If we don’t’ see Him calling us we won’t have to answer Him.” So, He stands waiting patiently for us to turn around again and face Him. The sooner we turn back, the sooner we get back on track. The sooner we are reunited with Him. The sooner we are forgiven.

Being forgiven by Him and returning to Him doesn’t pretend we didn’t turn away in the first place. Adam and Eve faced Him and the consequences of their actions. We will too, but the longer it takes to turn back, the harder it will be.

We can hear the historical reminder of the Jews and think, “At least I haven’t killed a prophet?” That won’t turn our attention back toward God. We must realize the story is about us turning against Him before we can fully benefit from the story.

Do we mock the Church and clergy thinking we are better? Imagine Christ saying, “Woe to you OrthoBros, hypocrites! You quote the canons of the Councils, but your hearts are filled with judgment and hatred for your brother.”

The ‘way back’ isn’t always easy, but it is always blessed. When we open our eyes and realize we are no longer facing God, it takes just a moment to decide to turn back. Sometimes the hardest part is admitting we are facing the wrong way.

Our challenge today is to admit how far we have turned from God. Maybe we can still see Him out of the corner of our eye. Maybe we are faced in the complete opposite direction. It doesn’t matter how far. Today, it only matters that we realize we have turned away, so we can turn back.

The ‘way back’ is through Holy Confession. Through the sacrament we receive the grace that God has granted the Church. Funny how it seems. We turned away from the Church in the first place, but it is the Church that will help us turn back.

As the saying goes. “That’s how much God loves us.” We turn against Him and HE is the one that helps us turn back. Now stand up and turn back!