God’s Call to Restore Our Common Sense

Last updated on: August 28, 2014 at 11:53 am by Leah Libresco

God’s Call to Restore Our Common Sense 2014-08-28T11:53:17-04:00 Leah Libresco

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today is the feast of Saint Augustine, my confirmation saint. In celebration, this morning I made sure to leave some time to pray the Office of Readings in the Divine Office, and I was particularly struck by this passage from Jeremiah (4:1-3):

If you wish to return, O Israel, says the Lord,
return to me.
If you put your destestable things out of my sight,
and do not stray,
Then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,”
in truth, in judgment, and in justice;
Then shall then nations use his name in blessing
and glory in him.

For to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, thus says the Lord:

Till your untilled ground,
sow not among thorns.

I like the simplicity of the commands. If you wish to return… start by returning! When the Lord begins giving commands for the reformation of Judah and Jerusalem, the prescribed actions (plough, plant) are as commonsensical and as clearly ordered to the good of the people as “Eat food. Drink water.”

It’s a very “His yoke is easy, his burden is light” moment.

But all this comes after a lengthy harangue about Israel playing the harlot through idolatry. During the verses of scolding, it’s easier to imagine that falling away from God involved something decadent and exciting, but by the time we reach the verses of correction, the earlier dalliances seem absurd. What kind of error would lead you to sow among thorns on purpose? Why would the kids put beans in their ears?

The simplicity of the homecoming that Judah and Jerusalem are called to mirrors the moment of conversion for Augustine. At the pivotal moment, his command was simple, “Tolle, lege” (Take up and read). Coming home wasn’t novel or strange, it was as plain as “Be fed.”

After his periods of intellectual infatuation and idolatry, Augustine wasn’t saved through secret knowledge and societies (as in Manichaeism), but though the testament that had been handed on to everyone, publicly. Returning isn’t a grand, romantic gesture — just the business of finally going about your life again.

Sam Rocha’s Augustine-themed album of soul music (caution, link autoplays) launches today.

Also today, I’m beginning a Norbertine novena in honor of my friend Michael Hannon, who entered the abbey yesterday.

Spiritual Practice

Previous Post

August 27, 2014

Charity for Society's Canaries

Next Post

August 29, 2014 7QT: Delighting in the Details

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 7 Quick Takes Apologetics Atheism Book Conversion Debate Tactics Debates Epistemology/Philosophy Housekeeping Ideological Turing Test Marriage Morality in Practice Parsing Catholicism Possibly Heretical Radio Reviews/Recommendations Sequence Index Spiritual Practice Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2017 March 2017 January 2017 December 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Gospel was written by a doctor?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mark Luke John Matthew