I’m sure all of you have seen movies where a beautiful couple, meant to be together, break-up.
It is unusually heart breaking. We know they should be together. We know that they are destined for each other. The one left behind stands there as the other closes the door behind them, or goes down into the subway, or drives away.
The one left behind —“ almost always the guilty party —“ has a moment to think. Is there still a chance? Can I get him or her back?
If it’s a good movie the person left behind finally acts. They run after the other. They chase them down and in an instant confess their sorrow and undying love.
God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
—See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
The action of God is a historical reality. The action of God is the historical reality of love. God is the consummate lover.
Throughout the Old Testament, God kept chasing after His people. They were the people who kept running away, the people who took on false lovers and other gods. Unlike the movies where the innocent one leaves, here the guilty parties kept running away. And here comes God, the true lover chasing after the ones who have run away; the ones who are guilty and sinful.
If you were here for Ash Wednesday you heard the prophet Joel telling us what God asks:
Come back to me with all your heart,
Turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent.
God made agreements —“ covenants with His people. He gave an eternal promise to Noah. Throughout the Old Testament God’s covenants and actions prepared His people for what was to come. He made covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David. He acted through the judges and prophets. He sang poetry to His people and chastised them when they were unfaithful.
Finally, in the fullness of time, God spoke His Word to us in the incarnation of His Son, Jesus, the Christ. Jesus who came to earth to reveal to us, in an instant, the fullness of God’s love for His people. Jesus, one with the Father and Holy Spirit revealed the fullness of God’s love for us.
St. Peter tells us how this was done:
Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
Jesus, crucified, who died, was buried and is risen, has shown us the Father. Jesus even told us: —Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.—
So it is today. We have seen Him. We receive Him each week. We see the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in His Holy Church. God is still chasing after us.
The miracle is that God created us. An even greater miracle is the fact that no matter how many times we run away, fall, or chase other gods, God calls us back. He comes after us. He sent His only Son into the world to connect us forever.
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
So go into the desert of this Lent. Go back to Christ, you are meant to be together forever.
Remember why He came. Remember what he said:
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
—This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.—
