2 Kings 17
Many Christians wonder what would happen to the world experiencing so many changes everywhere. As for religion, the world is on the course of irreligionist. Especially against Christianity, Western societies have been campaigning demoralization over a century now. Family, work, and all social relationships are demanded of secularization, meaning no more Christian ways of living. It is not uncommon to face hostility to Christian faith even within Christian families. Watching all these dreadful changes, we fear for a certain disastrous future.
The first reading today summarizes a similar situation. The nation called out to be God’s people no longer had faith in the covenant with God. They served other gods of neighbouring nations and practiced their immoral customs. And Israel became just one of the nations in Palestine drawn into the vortex of international power struggles. From the invasion of the Assyrian Empire to the expansion of the Persian Empire, the fate of the people of Israel was in the hands of their conquers. Many of them were scattered and lost their ethnic and religious identity for good. Only a small remnant kept their faith in God. Ironically, through these miserable years, Israel realized their true identity as God’s chosen people. These years saw the final form of the Old Testament produced by Israel’s spiritual leaders. Because of this bitter experience, Israel could open its eyes to the Messiah.
I believe we will repeat the fate of the people of the old covenant, or we are already undergoing a similar course. Christians are God’s chosen people. But many of us have already accepted and have been practicing idolatry and immorality of the world. Many Christians have lost their Christian identity. They voluntarily gave up their citizenship of the kingdom of heaven. It should be no surprise if we face today systemic discrimination against faithful Christians. Probably, we won’t be able to change the current course of anti-Christianity and secularism. But what is important for us is this: we can still choose to be the remnant of hope. It is not a Christian concern to build a prosperous nation in this world. Our purpose in life is to reach the eternal kingdom. Then, there can be nothing to sadden our hearts amid all these confusions. We are just at another turn of our journey toward that kingdom.
