33rd Week in OT 2018 - Friday - Sweet and Sour Scroll

One of my favorite descriptions of a good preacher, is that in his preaching he comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Every good homily should bring comfort, help, and inspiration to those who are struggling to remain faithful to the Gospel, and it should also shaken, awaken, stir-up those who may have grown complacent, those who have become a little too comfortable with sin, worldliness, and pride.

In the reading from Revelation, John receives a scroll of the word of God, which was both sweet to the tongue, yet sour to the stomach. John found the scroll sweet because it contained God’s sweet promises: his promises that those who are faithful to the Gospel shall inherit eternal life and shall have a place at the banquet feast of heaven, that earthly sufferings will ultimately come to an end and every tear will be wiped away. John also found the scroll sour because it also foretold how God’s people, would have to suffer persecution and martyrdom, they would have to be faithful to carrying their cross, if they wished to inherit eternal life.

The Psalm and the Gospel illustrate both the sweetness and the sourness of the Word of God.
On one hand, the Psalmist today sings of how sweet are the promises of God—the law of God’s mouth being more precious than thousands of Gold and silver pieces. How are God’s laws more precious? For gold and silver cannot purchase eternal life, they cannot obtain the joy and peace our hearts long for. Rather, it is only by knowing and following God’s word, God’s decrees, that we can obtain our eternal inheritance.

On the other hand, we see what happens when the Word of God enters a corrupt temple. He seeks to drive out the corruption. He’ll flip over tables, he’ll fashion a whip out of cords and drive out the sinful attachments, and that’s not always pleasant. But the Christian has to ask himself, would you rather live with corruption in your soul and die, and suffer in order to be cleansed of corruption, so that you may live?

In our modern age, many want the sweet part of the Gospel, but not the sour. They want the promises without the challenge, they want the resurrection without the cross, they want peace without having to suffer for it. Even some church leaders will distort the Word of God, highlighting the sweetness and omitting the sourness. And that’s somewhat understandable, who likes to suffer? But, it is only swallowing, believing and teaching the whole Gospel, the whole word of God, that we can become the people God made us to be, to live in the true freedom of the children of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112318.cfm
 
That Christians may undertake the meditation and prayer necessary to live holy and righteous lives.

For a healing of all family divisions, reunion for the estranged and welcoming of the alienated.

That those who have fallen away from the Church or fallen into serious sin may repent and return to the grace of the Sacraments.

For the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, the unemployed, those who are facing financial difficulties, those with addictions, and the imprisoned: that God will draw close to them, and bless them with grace and peace.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.