Both of our readings today have a similar theme: God the Father's idea of restoring and renewing his people. In the first reading we hear the continuation of the idea that was introduced yesterday: how God wants to enter into a more intimate and deeper relationship with his people than he has ever had to that point before. After forming them as his people and leading them out of slavery in Egypt, this people soon forgot what God had done. And so he chooses to remind them how valuable and precious they are to him. The concept of "espoused" and "husband" are what he wants to get across to them at this point. They are to be his "beloved espoused;" and he is to be considered their "devoted husband."
The passage today recaps what happened during those periods when they turned away from God – and became in many aspects "as a harlot" – sinning against him – and making him very sad: they did pretty much what they wanted to do – not looking to me, nor seeking my approval for anything; they made idols of molten silver and gold and worshiped them instead of me; they built altars to glorify their own sinning; in many ways they were heading straight back to the slavery I had delivered them from in Egypt.
But God wanted to draw them away from this way of thinking and acting – so he leads them to the desert, again, this time to give them time to think and reflect and to seek him wholeheartedly once again! He leads us to the desert (a few minutes here and there each day – if we take the time and recognize the gift) as well: to think, to reflect and to seek him wholeheartedly once again – so that we may not shrink back into the slavery of sin!
In the gospel passage, many centuries later, Jesus is dealing with the same kind of condition in God, his Father's people: they are still confused; they are still troubled, they are suffering from illness and diseases of every kind (a lot of it related to their poor spiritual health); he sees them as sheep without a shepherd. He does what he can to heal their wounds and to restore them BECAUSE NOW HE HIMSELF IS THE BRIDEGROOM and THEY ARE POTENTIALLY HIS NEW BRIDE. The community of the new people of God born of his death and resurrection would be his true Bride – and it would look to its completion on the Last Day when the great, grand and glorious wedding feast of the Lamb – Himself – and his Bride: the Church in its perfection: would begin!
And so Jesus knows there is work to be done in preparing for that Nuptial Banquet in heaven – therefore he asks those around him to pray to God to send laborers for the harvest – helpmates of himself – who would complete his ministry of gathering the flock into one to present to God the Father on that wonderful day in the future.
We pray then today for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life; to all of the lay ministries that are so vitally important to the Church in this day in age – and for all Christians – that we may give ourselves completely to Jesus and his Father - so that by the working of the Holy Spirit through us, we may make more and more present here and now the reality of the Kingdom of God until that day when it bursts forth in all of it splendor and glory and fullness and will remain forever! Amen!
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