From the Friars: The Coming Wrath

In today’s gospel we hear the fiery words of St. John the Baptist warning of “the coming wrath.” Fire and brimstone type preaching is not popular these days. There is a far greater emphasis on God’s Mercy and readiness to forgive. It is first of all important to recognize that there is no contradiction between the mercy and justice of God. God in Himself is simple. The difference between God’s wrath and His mercy is only a matter of different human experiences of the same reality of God’s Love, of the God Who is Love.

Not only do many people not want to hear about God’s Justice, but there are many demanding that things that are clearly against the Law of God be accepted as something good. These are often the same voices who demand a very strict human justice for other certain offenses, for example a shooting that is seen as motivated by racism. It is right to insist on justice in these cases. But our view of justice should be consistent.

The ancient Israelites longed for God’s Justice. It was their only hope when oppressed by those with worldly power. The great Messianic prophecy we hear today from Isaiah includes this hopeful cry: “he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.” (Is 11: 4) Throughout history great numbers of people have lived under the yoke of tyrants and criminals without hope for justice in this life. We Americans are among those most blessed, and sometimes spoiled, people that have ever lived.

At this moment there are billions of people that live under many different forms of oppression and abuse. Right next door in Mexico many businesses have to pay protection money to drug cartels or they and their families will be killed. In Nicaragua there are priests, bishops and many others in prison and are tortured for speaking out against the dictatorship there. Human rights abuses in China are horrendous. The list goes on and on.

Justice is to give someone their due. The most important act of justice is to give God the worship and adoration that He deserves. When Jesus comes again in glory, He will judge the world with mercy yes, but also with justice. The oppressed will see their hopes fulfilled and those who refuse to accept the truth or follow it will experience the consequences of their free choice to reject God.

Threats of punishment are not cruel if that is what is needed to wake someone up to the reality of the possibility of losing their soul. May the great St. John the Baptist help us to prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts and lives.

A Blessed Advent to all.

–Fr. Peter