Throughout the seventy year exile that the Israelites endured in Babylon, held captive by the Assyrians, their chief desire was to return to their homeland and their God. The peoples of that time believed that God resided in specific places. The God of Israel lived in Israel. So returning to their homeland was crucial for them if they were to maintain their relationship with their God.
This notion explains a curious incident in the Second Book of Kings, chapter five. The story of Naaman the Leper unfolds in this chapter. Elisha commands him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Though reticent at first, Naaman is persuaded to do as Elisha bids him. He is completely cured of his leprosy. He returns to Elisha and says: “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.” Elisha refuses to accept the gift. Naaman then says: “If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD.” Naaman needs the soil to take part of Israel back to his own country so that the God of Israel will reside in his own country.
Reflecting on the hardships of their ancestors who made a similar journey when they were released from Egypt, many of the Israelites decided not to return. Those who did return decided that it was more important to provide homes for themselves rather than to rebuild the temple. So they occupied their time by sowing their seeds, by building their homes, by making new clothes, and by eating and drinking. This is when the prophet Haggai steps in!
“You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; you have drunk, but have not become intoxicated; you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed; and the hired worker labors for a bag full of holes.” (Haggai 1:6) Upbraiding the people of Israel for putting their own needs before their relationship with God, Haggai has harsh words for the returning exiles.
Most of us grew up in a society where the local parish church was the anchor of our neighborhood. For me that was in northwest Milwaukee at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish. I still remember walking to the church with my neighbors on Tuesday evening for devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. As we neared the church, one could see people coming from every direction. Sadly, in many cases our society today doesn’t have the same kind of care for the local parish. We have lost that identity that came with being Catholic in the mid-twentieth century.
I am not sure that this identity can be recaptured. However, we can and must make God the center of our lives if we wish to end the cycles of violence and destruction that have afflicted many neighborhoods. I realize that I am preaching to the choir in this instance. Let us pray for our neighbors and ask God’s help in the quintessential Franciscan task of rebuilding God’s church.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator