Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time [A]

 

12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [A] 


Jesus needs to be understood as the “New Adam.” That’s what you will find when you review the contents of Romans chapter five and likewise First Corinthians chapter fifteen. Meanwhile, what can we say about the original Adam? Actually, there is a lot that can be said about the original Adam. However, for the sake of brevity, we will simply have to classify him as a disappointment. Because the original Adam fails, a New Adam has been called forth, to carry forward with the Plan of Salvation. 


How do we know that this Second Adam won’t turn into a disappointment? For example, it’s possible you might begin to hate your life. If life is difficult, if you’re struggling, then it stands to reason that somebody will have to be blamed. Perhaps you will see fit to blame the Lord. It’s certainly an option. It’s an option—unless you happen to be the prophet Jeremiah. He sees “terror” all around him. And yet, he refuses to blame the Lord. Yes, he does a fair amount of venting. He even complains, earlier on in this chapter. Nevertheless, he’s sticking with the Lord. He can detect the Lord’s abiding presence, providing him with support. Therefore, even though it’s a time of trial, Jeremiah has no intention of disowning the Lord (see Jeremiah 20:7-13). 


What kind of relationship is it? We could describe it as a stormy relationship, or a turbulent relationship. Jeremiah complains, he worries, he protests. The relationship is being strained. But it somehow remains in place. It’s still in play, despite the frustrations and the anguish. It’s never to the point of being “out of play.”  Declaring it “out of play” would mean that the Lord is being disowned. It’s a very real prospect, as we hear in Matt. 10:33. It’s something that can happen. It’s probably something that DOES happen. But it’s not happening with Jeremiah. To complain is not to disown. To protest is not to disown. To question is not to disown. A relationship can be volatile without ever having to be officially severed. 


By way of illustration, consider the relationship Margaret Mitchell outlines in her 1936 novel, Gone With The Wind: the relationship between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. To call it a turbulent relationship would be an understatement. One moment, it’s Scarlett disowning Rhett. The next moment, it’s Rhett disowning Scarlett. It’s back and forth disowning, throughout the course of the narrative. As we approach the end, it would appear that Rhett has reached the end of his rope; he’s walking away, disowning her completely. It’s goodbye—seemingly goodbye forever. Even so, we’re being put on notice as Scarlett delivers her final words: This relationship is still in play. 


Does your relationship with the Lord resemble the relationship between Scarlett and Rhett? Is it stormy at times? Turbulent? Have you ever felt the compulsion to disown the Lord? Is that, by chance, your current frame of mind? Hopefully you will stop short of disowning Him. Or at least limit it to something “unofficial.”  An official disowning will not work in your best interests (look again at Matt. 10:33). Draw strength from the example of Jeremiah. For that matter, draw also from the example of Scarlett O’Hara. In spite of all the drama and the fireworks, she is committed to keeping the relationship in play. If a relationship with Rhett Butler is worth the trouble, then a relationship with the Lord will, by all means, be worth the trouble. 

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