14th Week in OT 2018 - Tuesday - Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind

Every few years I like to reread, Dante’s Divine Comedy.  And this morning’s reading from Hosea reminds me of a scene very early on in Dante’s Inferno: Upon entering the gates of hell with his guide Virgil, Dante the pilgrim comes to the second level of hell—the level of hell set aside for the lustful and those who have subjected the use of their reason to their passions.  Now, the punishments of those in hell in Dante’s poem often in some way relate to the sins for which they are being punished.   So the eternal punishment of the lustful is to be blown this level of hell by these tremendous winds without rest, forever.

Perhaps this scene was inspired by the line from the Prophet Hosea this morning: “those who sow the wind,  shall reap the whirlwind.”

Who are those who “sow the wind?” Those who give-in to being blown about by their sensual feelings, their bodily desire and physical cravings. Ignoring the commandments and the use of right reason, they only follow their feelings, which are as fickle as the wind.

Saint Paul warns the Ephesians about “being tossed here and there, carried about by every wind”; he's not just talking about lust here, but warns against being blown about by religious error, different ideological currents, and making a political agenda or social ideology the impetus of their lives rather than the Gospel.

So, those who “sow in wind” are not just the lustful, but those who are not firmly rooted in the truth of the Gospel.

If we are not firmly rooted in prayer and knowledge of the Word of God, we’re going to be blown around by whatever catches our fancy.  Folks aren’t coming to Sunday Mass because they have some intellectual opposition to the Sunday obligation, but because they are doing whatever they want.  Young people aren’t cohabitating before marriage because they’ve studied the church’s theology on marriage and found it lacking. No, they are being blown about by the winds of the culture and their passions and choosing not to think about what they are doing.

We even talk about getting caught up in gossip, or complaining, like we are “caught up” in some windstorm.

When we surrender our intellect and our faith to the winds of human desire we are going to be blown to places we aren’t meant to go.  So, again, we must remain rooted in faith, prayer, the study of scripture, the lives of the saints, in order to be faithful to the Gospel of Christ.

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That all bishops and clergy will lead the Church well in standing strong against the winds of error and immorality in our modern culture.

For all those who have fallen away from the Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, for their conversion, and the conversion of all hearts.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord