THE RIGHT PATH

Reading: Jeremiah 6: 16-21

The people of Judah liked to regard themselves as the chosen people, specially favoured by God. But they had forgotten that while they had been specially chosen, it was for a purpose, namely to be a sign of hope for the world. Instead of honouring God and seeking to be nurtured in his ways so that they might fulfil that purpose, they became rebellious. In essence they thought they knew better than God how they should live their lives. They practiced idolatry. The rich and powerful oppressed the poor and weak. The so-called prophets gave false prophecies and the priests and religious leaders ruled with an iron hand. The voices of those who wanted justice and truth and mercy were silenced, all, that is, except Jeremiah who continued to speak out against the rebellion of God’s people. He tells them, “Stop right where you are! Look for the old godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” They did not listen to Jeremiah just as they had not heeded the other ‘watchmen’ whom God had sent to warn them. Unless they changed their ways, the consequences for them would be disastrous. The words given to Jeremiah to proclaim are as wise and relevant for today’s world as they were for his. The instructions are simple, yet profound. Stop! Look! Then walk – and listen. We live in a busy, confused, secular and materialistic world. With all our technological expertise and almost daily new inventions, it is so easy for people to slip into the mindset of thinking that they know better than God how they should live their lives. Other things are given the place due to him alone and, increasingly, he is dismissed as a figment of the imagination. Yet within many there is still a hunger for something more that no invention or possession can satisfy. Their restless hearts crave a peace that cannot be bought. What to do? Where are the voices that will urge them, in a way that will arrest their attention, to stop, to look for the tried and trusted paths, the old godly way, so ridiculed in today’s world but the only one that leads to rest and peace? God has sent us many ‘watchmen’ in the past but we forget their warnings so quickly. As the people of God we, too, have been chosen for a purpose – to be image bearers of the Good News, of Jesus with all that that implies in terms of mercy, justice, truth and peace. Our vocation is to be a sign of hope for the world. We cannot be that for others unless we have discovered it for ourselves. Do we really stand out as being different, as being people who have discovered a treasure that cannot be bought? Or have we become so affected and pulled down by the enormity of the modern idolatry that forms part of our lives that when structures and institutions begin to collapse, as they are already doing, we collapse along with them? We need to take time to stop, to look for and reflect upon the ‘old godly way,’ the essence of our faith and, when we have done so, to have the courage to travel that road. At the core of our faith we find, not a doctrine, but a person. We find Jesus who described himself as the Way. It is through him, with him and in him that we rediscover our purpose. And we find rest for our souls.

 

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