+ The famous saying of the hypocrite is: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Surely, it would seem blasphemous to put these words in the mouth of God, but it certainly seems like that is what God is saying today.
“I will demand an accounting from every animal and from any man in regard to his fellow man.”
To put it crudely: “I have wiped out almost every man and animal from the earth; but you are not to do the same.”
It is like a version of the strongest and most extreme teaching lesson about consequences for actions for us.
But for innocent creatures? Why did everyone have to die?
But why leave it at floods; don’t earthquakes and sweltering heat and deadly bites and even lightning strikes do the same? Even modern earthquakes in this very time in history take the lives of 30,000 or 40,000 victims in an instant or at least a moment in time that cannot be used again.
And what do we call it but an act of God. And that is because we don’t know who or what else to blame.
But most interestingly, God makes it super clear that, although he has done it, we are not to do the same.
And when we do, he also makes it quite clear that there will be accounting and, presumably, punishment.
It is all delivered in a tightly wrapped package.
And like most biblical stories it is meant to teach moral behavior — “Thous shalt not kill.”
And from all of this came another covenant accompanied with a sign — and a colorful one at that.
The rainbow would forever remind us of this horrific moment in time when our disobedience and flagrant style of living was punished and cleansed from the earth.
The question could be asked, if we have experienced anything like this in our own lives.
Oh, of course, not the flood, because that has already been promised not to occur again — at least not on the entire world stage all at once.
There are plenty of local floods and hurricanes, and some that stretch over quite a large portion of the earth all at one time.
Note that when six to 10 states are in a frozen lockdown, and electricity and heat are lost and people go into a real survival mode.
Some shout blame on God; some shout the almighty power of mother nature.
Most do not shout personal and communal blame on self or selves — except for what some may blame on communal abuse of the earth resulting in more and more weather and mother nature hiccups.
It is almost as if the weather and mother nature are trying to teach us the hard lesson of consequences for our actions.
But like so many of the stories, especially catastrophic ones like Noah and the arc, it is difficult, if not impossible, to draw the line between literal and profound mystery.
Mystery, for many, seems to make more sense.
Rather than putting all the blame on God and God’s erratic and angry response to our sinfulness, we recognize that there is just so much we cannot explain and cannot figure out.
We are simply called to experience it and seek a trusting and hope-filled relationship with and through and in our God.
+ As Jesus shared a little of his identity with his disciples and some of the difficult journey ahead, there, for sure, was mystery to come that they had and would have difficulty understanding and accepting.
The cross!
And maybe we still do; but for sure: experience it, we will.
The word calls us to take a look at and listen to deep mystery — even the unexplainable, and to not lose hope but to trust that, in it and through it all, God will remain present and his promise will prevail.
God will provide the rainbows of life!
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
