Repentance Unto Life (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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According to Scripture, God does not desire anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent and believe (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). For this reason, He has tasked prophets such as Ezekiel with calling the wayward people of Israel and Judah back to God. Our reading for this week is a reflection of this, and relates to previous readings which are on the same theme (see The Watchman).

From the founding of Israel as a nation, God made a covenant with the people that if they obey His laws, they will be blessed, whereas if they disobey His laws, they will be cursed. These blessings and curses are listed in Deuteronomy 28. Note how the list of curses is much longer than the list of blessings, with the blessings in verses 1-14, and the curses in verses 15-68. This is to underscore how seriously God regards transgression against His laws.

We know from history that the people did not repent, and were thus ultimately carried off into exile, exactly as the curses stipulate. Sometimes they were tempted to blame their failures on their fathers, which was reflected in a false proverb they crafted: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge” (Ezekiel 18:2). but as the prophet Ezekiel reminds them, they are responsible for their own fates. Their own choices will determine their destiny, both in this life and the life to come.

Even in our day, God promises to bless those who are faithful to Him. But for those who are unfaithful, the ultimate out come of their choices is everlasting destruction. Those who are Christian have already repented towards God, and are tasked with prophetically declaring God’s message to the nations. We must be faithful in being witnesses for God, even when those around us insist on going their own way, in order that some might turn back to God and not perish.

J. Luis Dizon