Written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121520.cfm
I recently read a story written by a priest who was sharing the experience he had while waiting in a grocery checkout line. Behind him was a little girl about 6 years old who was pulling the gum and candy off the shelves and complaining loudly. All the while her mother kept saying softly, “Be calm, Susan…relax Susan…take a deep breath, Susan.” Finally, the priest turned to the Mom and congratulated her, saying what a wonderfully patient mother Susan had. The mother looked at him and said: “I’m Susan.”1
The little girl was obviously having a meltdown and showing her rebellious side. We hear something similar in our first reading from Zephaniah who is talking about the rebellious and unfaithful people of Judah. He said, and it sounds like he’s describing the little girl in the checkout line:
Woe to the… rebellious…tyrannical city!
She hears no voice,
accepts no correction;
Then he says about Judah’s unfaithfulness:
In the LORD she has not trusted,
to her God she has not drawn near.
Zephaniah was condemning the way most of the people were living. He saw their greed, selfishness, and their unfaithfulness to the covenant and continually took them to task. He told them there was no hope except for a small group of followers…the ‘remnant’, he called them. A remnant, of course, is a “little piece that is left over”. Zephaniah’s remnant are the ones who will stay faithful to God in both good and bad times. Through all their troubles, they seek and trust in God. Zephaniah finishes his message with a song of joy reassuring the remnant people that God loves them and will save them.
He also leaves clues today about how this remnant people draw near to God, and his clues can be part of our examination of conscience this Advent. When he says:
- “Take refuge in the name of the Lord . . .”, we can ask ourselves: Where has my attention been focused? On my relationship with the Lord?
- Or: “. . . do no wrong and speak no lies . . . ” How have we acted and spoken about others?
- And finally: “. . . pasture and couch your flocks . . .” Who needs our loving attention now? Have we reached out to those in need? Remembered the lonely among us?
And if we fail at these on occasion, we are assured that just like the mother in our story, God will be tolerant and patient, loving us despite ourselves. So, like the faithful remnant of Judah, may we trust in God’s providence and never lose hope.
https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/2004/121404.html
