Jeremiah 7:23-28 / Luke 11:14-23 (2019)
Whenever we say that history repeats itself, we are more inclined to think that it is the mistakes of the past that are repeated.
These mistakes only show that the present generation has not learned much from the prior generation or from the past events of history.
This was also what the prophet Jeremiah was saying in the 1st reading.
Just about 120 years before, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been annihilated by Assyria.
And now, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was facing the same threat from Babylon.
And God was warning them through Jeremiah. But why were they not heeding? Why were they not listening?
If anything, it is not too much to say that that the people do not love God.
Because one of the fruits of love is to listen.
Just like if we love our parents, our spouse, our children, our friends, we will listen to them with a heart of love.
Similarly when we love someone, we will also speak to that person with a heart of love.
When we listen and speak with a heart of love, then with Jesus we gather others into the peace of God's kingdom.
It is either we gather people into the peace and love of God's kingdom, or we scatter and bring division.
There isn't a third option.