Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Osmond Anike

Readings:

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 – God’s wrath and mercy are revealed in the exile and release of his people.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 136(137):1-6 – O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 – You have been saved through grace.

Gospel: John 3:14-21 – God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved.

Today’s first reading comes from the second book of Chronicles. The name “Chronicles” means the things that were left out or that were passed over. These left out things refer to those events that were omitted in the former history books of Samuel and Kings. Today’s reading recounts the final catastrophe in Judah before its destruction. The four last kings of Judah all behaved wickedly and were subsequently all dethroned by enemies of Israel. Jehoahaz was deposed by the king of Egypt who deported him to Egypt and installed his brother Eliakim as king. Eliakim himself later changed his name to Jehoiakim. It was then the turn of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to depose Jehoiakim and deport him to Babylon. His son Jehoiachin succeeded him on the throne as king of Judah; but he did not fare better either. He too was again dethroned by Nebuchadnezzar who installed his brother Zedekiah in his place. But he too followed his predecessors in acts of wickedness and refused to heed the words of Jeremiah the prophet. Instead, he and the leading priests as well as the people all join in scorn of the prophet. As a result, the wrath of the Lord rose against Judah until there was no remedy. Like Jeremiah prophesized, Jerusalem was eventually captured by the Babylonians after a long siege; and their cherished temple was destroyed. This marked the end of Judah as a nation. The survivors were all taken into exile to Babylon. The exile was to last for a Sabbath consisting of 70 years.

It was while in exile in Babylon in 586 BC that the famous “No Song of Zion” lament (today’s responsorial psalm – Psalm137) was rendered.  The exiles in Babylon gather on the banks of the irrigation canals which bring the waters of Tigris and Euphrates to the fields of the city. They come together for a ceremony of mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem and praying for its restoration. Although their oppressors were taunting them to sing one of those Zion’s songs, they just couldn’t. There is no music. The lyres hang silently on the poplar trees. The songs of Zion (Psalms 95-99) with their emphases on the might and majesty of the Lord would only arouse the contempt and amusement of their conquerors. The Lord’s song belongs to the ritual of a temple that is no more. But an individual testifies that, though he cannot sing the sacred songs on alien soil, he will never forget the place of their origin – Jerusalem; and that he will regard the opportunity to return as life’s highest joy.

This psalm is a very well-known psalm that has been made even more popular by the various renditions of it, particularly by the Rastafarians. It is a psalm that has been appropriated by virtually every group that has been oppressed in one way or the other. The term ‘Babylon’ has become an epithet for oppression. It is in this sense that the Rastafarians use the term to refer to the government, the police, and any other organ that is viewed as oppressive. But how do we as Christians understand and apply this psalm particularly in the context of today’s secularism? It is important to note that when the people of Israel who were in captivity in Babylon gathered to think back of their homeland, the first and most important thing they thought about was “Zion” – the dwelling place of God on earth which was destroyed by the Babylonians. They wept when they remembered their place of worship which lay ruined. The toughest thing they faced in Babylon was not the physical torture they endured but rather their separation from their place of worship. It was indeed sad for them to remember Zion, and they wept as they did so.

In today’s secular society, Christianity has been pushed away from the mainstream society. Christianity has become an endangered species all over the globe. Apart from places where people are not even allowed to practice their faith, in other places where church buildings are littered everywhere, the few that enter them are looked upon by the rest with curiosity. Some of these churches serve no use except as tourist attractions. Those who still practice their faith are mostly doing so in hushed voices. Then the arrival of the almighty “Madam Coronavirus” became a justifying excuse to permanently silence Christianity. Our “Madam” keeps on giving birth to children in the form of “variants”. With each variant come a tighter measure, and a continuous suppression of the church. The church has never been considered as “essential”. In fact, it is hardly even mentioned at all when they talk about sectors of the society that are impacted by the pandemic. Though to be fair, there are other sectors of the society that are suffering too. But, unlike the church, they are at least regularly being recognized as going through difficulties.

The current health crises can be described as being in Babylon. And as we pray for a restoration back to normalcy, the question for us Christians is: Do we remember our own place of worship? Do we miss our own Zion? Do we desire to go back and be reunited with our place of worship? The people of Israel were not comfortable singing the Lord’s song on alien soil. We have our own alien soil – the various social media platforms like Zoom and Facebook through which we watch religious ceremonies online. Unfortunately, many people have already so grown comfortable singing the Lord’s song on alien soil that they no longer desire to go back to Zion. To sing the Lord’s song on alien soil implies, for the people of Israel, to forget Jerusalem, or, not to have Jerusalem as their chief joy. In this sense, they were ready to bear the worst punishment if they forget Jerusalem (let my right hand wither…). But for us, there appears to be nothing wrong with singing the Lord’s song on alien soil. In fact, many people have already preferred the alien soil to Zion. Of what use is Zion when we can sit or even lie comfortably in our rooms and follow the so-called online masses? The argument that the civil authorities are making to justify the continued closure of churches (and a lot of sincere Christians are already buying into the misleading argument) is that one does not need to go to the church in order to pray or worship God. In as much as this is true, but the argument can as well be pushed further to include other sectors like the schools: One does not need to go to school in order to learn. Why are schools being reopened? The reason is simply because they have realized that learning online is like singing the Lord’s song on alien soil and therefore cannot replace in-person learning. Students are protesting and demanding that schools be reopened for in-person learning because they are tired of the online lectures. They want to go back to their own “Zion”; and they are right about it. Again, one does not need to go to the shops in order to buy and sell. Everything can be done online nowadays. But why are the shops open and the same argument is being used to prevent churches from being open? Furthermore, the fact that one can cook food outside in an open park does not mean you carry your cooking stove outside and permanently install it there and do your cooking. The “Zion” of cooking is your kitchen; and everyone prefers to do his/her cooking inside the kitchen. If you cook outside in the open park, the food will still taste fine. But no one puts up the argument that one does not need a kitchen in order to cook. We must be wary of some of these arguments which are, in a sense, true but designed to deflect the real issue at stake namely, the covert desire to do away with religion.

Brothers and sisters, when we read the Scripture, we should try to apply it to today’s issues. This is what makes the Word of God alive. The responsorial psalm of today should really speak to us personally in order to remind us that our Christian lives should not be extinguished by the temporary measures permitted by the church to help us go through corona crises. Measures like staying at home on Sundays and following the mass online are not meant to become the new normal. We should long to return back to our “Zion”, to our place of worship. And every opportunity that presents itself to us for that return, we must cease with both hands.