Last week all of our first readings were from the Prophet Hosea. Any one of the reflections could have begun: “In today’s first reading the Northern Kingdom of Israel is being warned about the choices they have made and are making – and the consequences of those choices should they continue.” The actors in the passage were Hosea, the King of Israel, and Assyria. In the first reading for today, the era is the same, the opening remains the same, but the stage bill changes. Now the lead roles are the Prophet Isaiah and the King of Judah; Assyria retains the same “supporting role.” There is a lot going on in the Book of Isaiah, but perhaps these verses can give you the lay of the land: Continue reading
The Wrath of God
Reply
“Bless me Father, for I have sinned….” Among the most frequently confessed sins are anger, being judgmental, and impatience. “Patience is a virtue.” We’re all familiar with that expression. Patience is listed by St. Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 as among the fruit of the Spirit. So, there’s no disputing that the Christian ought to be patient. But is impatience a sin? W. H. Auden, the English-American poet, wrote “Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience. Because of impatience we were driven out of Paradise, because of impatience we cannot return.” Insightful about the human condition to be sure, but not sure that has standing in the world of moral theology. 
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