Rekindle our passion Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28 One of the rituals that parents go through takes place when their children plead to introduce a pet into the household. Part of the children’s plea includes the assurance that “we will take care of it.” Whether the “it” is a dog, cat or fish, most children soon tire of the esponsibilities of caring for their pet. What begins with excited pleas and promises soon becomes a burdensome and boring routine of responsibilities that many children shirk if they can. Adults have similar experiences. There is a certain excitement that comes with a new job, a new house, a new car. But it does not take long before the excitement dissipates, and a numbing routine settles in. The new job brings with it new responsibilities, the new house and new car need to be maintained. Initial enthusiasm is dampened by the routines of everyday life. Today’s responsorial psalm reflects that all-too-common experience of excitement wearing off and being replaced by numbing routine. The psalm’s first stanza is a rousing call to praise God: “Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.” Those who heard the temple’s Levitical singers must have been filled with excitement and awe, especially those who came to the temple from a distance. After several days’ journey, they found themselves standing in the house of God, singing God’s praises. Two stanzas later, however, comes the warning: “If today, you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” The psalmist reminds us how quickly our enthusiasm for God can wane by pointing to the freed Hebrew slaves. God led them out of the house of bondage amid great rejoicing and thanksgiving, but it was not long before these same people doubted God’s care for them. They lost their confidence in God’s providential care. Their doubts led to murmuring against God. We go through a similar experience in our life with God as the Christian life becomes a matter of routine. We say a few prayers, go to Mass on most Sundays and contribute a few dollars to charity. When we face difficulties in our lives, we begin asking why God puts us through challenging experiences. News reports about the suffering of innocent victims of war, about mass shootings in schools, about deadly natural disasters lead us to ask why God permits such suffering in the world. God becomes an ever more distant reality, not part of our daily experience. We all need to rekindle our passion for God and the Gospel, to regain our enthusiasm for the Lord and to respond to God’s voice calling us today. The Holy Spirit calls us to a new level of commitment, generosity and love by presenting us with occasion after occasion to move beyond the minimal obligations of the Christian life by urging us to make the ideals of the gospel the central focus of our lives. Our life with God should never become a matter of routine. Our life with God can become a new adventure for us every day. Each day we ought to ask ourselves: What is God saying to me today? Where will God lead me today? How will I be able to respond to God’s love for me today? Our passion for the Gospel may wane from time to time, but God’s passion for us remains constant. God is an ever-present source of forgiveness, blessing, encouragement. Today’s responsorial psalm is a call to rekindle our passion for the Gospel, to reclaim the power of the Spirit to live the Gospel, to respond to God’s grace with enthusiasm, commitment and joy. We ought to worship with enthusiasm, to respond people in need with generosity, thank God with sincere love. Children are easily bored. Their enthusiasm for having a pet can diminish when the responsibility for caring for their per settles into a routine. Adults too can become bored with the responsibilities that come with life. Authentic Christians remain passionate about living the ideals of the Gospel as they take advantage of the opportunities life offers them to be generous, loving, and forgiving in response to their experience of God’s in their lives.
About the Author Father Leslie Hoppe, OFM, is professor emeritus of Old Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago.