23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

 Vindication and Recompense Is. 35:4-7

Prophets are hard to understand at times. 

They always seem to be swimming against the tide. 

They warn us of impending doom when everything is going great. 

And offer boundless Hope when when everything appears lost. 

This is why so few people believe them. 

Israel has just been crushed by the Babylonians 

Everything was lost. 

And those exiled to Babylon are wondering what to do now. 

They are tempted to walk away from their Faith

So that they can “fit in” with society. 

Get jobs and live comfortable lives. 

And Isaiah says Be Strong!  Fear Not!

God will come with Vindication. 

And prove that their Faith was true 

By restoring Israel. 

God will also come with Recompense. 

And repay Israel a hundredfold for what it has suffered. 

And God did. 

The Babylonian Empire fell. 

And The Kingdom of Israel was restored. 

Christendom is over. 

We now live in a secular age. 

And are tempted to walk away from our Faith 

So that we can “fit in” with society

And get good jobs and live comfortable lives. 

Isaiah says to us, Be strong and fear not!

For one day God will come with Vindication and Recompense. 

For all those times when people thought you were crazy for going to church when you could have gone out to dinner Saturday night or slept in on Sunday morning. 

For all the times you preserved in the Faith when others walked away because of scandals;

For all those times people thought you were closed minded, old fashioned or even hateful for what you believed. 

God will come and Vindicate you. 

And show that you did the right thing by holding on to your Faith.

For all those times when you turned off the TV and prayed instead. 

For all those times you turned the other cheek;

For all those times you sacrificed for others;

God will come with Recompense And reward you. 

And welcome you into His Kingdom. 

For you Preserved in the Faith.