Baruch 1:15-22 / Luke 10:13-16
Have we ever wondered why it is so difficult to be obedient?
Certainly obedience is a virtue, and more so if obedience to something that is good for us, then all the more there should be no issues with it.
Furthermore, there is also such a thing as obedience-training, as in the military, or like how some pet dogs are sent for obedience training.
Whichever might be the case, the tendency to disobey and to do things our way, is inherent in humans, even though they may know that disobedience will have punishing consequences.
The 1st reading gives an account of the disobedience of the people of God. But that is just one of the many accounts of how the people of God had not listened to the voice of the Lord and not followed the commandment of the Lord.
And so with that, it was one disaster after another, being conquered by enemies, internal turmoil, injustice and oppression and suffering.
The 1st reading points out the cause of this disobedience - each wants to follow the dictates of his evil heart, and collectively it spells disaster for a nation.
And this evil streak of disobedience continues in the gospel with the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum heading towards destruction.
All this sounds terribly bleak and depressive. But the good news is that God is compassionate and merciful, and He still wants to save His people even though they have sinned and turned away from Him.
So God sent one prophet after another, and God also sent one saint after another.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of a great saint, St. Francis of Assisi. We may think that St. Francis is about poverty and loving nature, calling them Brother Sun and Sister Moon, and talking to birds.
But St. Francis is a messenger of peace, and the hymn "The Prayer of St. Francis" (Make me a channel of your peace) tells us why he is such a great saint.
Just as disobedience brings about chaos, obedience brings about peace, and he discovered this through his life of poverty and self-surrendering to the Lord in obedience.
God told St. Francis what to do with his life and he obeyed and he found peace.
May we also listen to what God wants us to do with our life. When we obey, we will find peace, just as St. Francis did.