If today your hear his voice, harden not your hearts. — Psalm 95:8
Mass readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28 / Luke 11:14-23
Stiff-necked and stubborn, won’t listen, won’t take correction, won’t obey, won’t heed warnings! Jeremiah’s description of God’s people in today’s first reading could apply to any of us who, occasionally, behave like petulant children or rebellious teenagers.
Author Phillip Keller, in his study of Psalm 23 from a shepherd’s point of view, writes about Mrs. Gad-About, a ewe that was extremely headstrong. Constantly breaking through fences and going where she didn’t belong, she endangered not only herself but also the rest of the flock that followed her. Eventually, her habitual drifting proved fatal. To save the rest of the flock, Keller had to slaughter her. This Lenten season, may we train our inner “Mrs. Gad-About” into submission, heeding Jeremiah’s admonition to listen to God’s voice and walk in His ways so we may not perish but prosper.
Prayer: Lord, bend our willfulness and redirect our straying feet; help us follow our Shepherd’s voice.