We see an illustration of this type of resistance in the Gospel reading. “They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts.” Their hearts, which were meant to be sponges for God’s words, had become sclerotic, impenetrable even to God. “They have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.” They wouldn’t heed the Lord when he sent the prophets toward them they would resolutely keep doing what they wanted to do like horses running with blinders. “They turned their backs, not their faces, to me.” This was a sign of betrayal and abandonment. But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.” Then he uses four body parts to describe graphically their response. What did the vast majority of the Israelites do in response to that gift of mercy God had given them? The Lord himself summarizes it through the Prophet Jeremiah at the beginning of today’s first reading: “This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. 
The fulfillment of the law leads to the fulfillment of human persons.
Jesus himself in the Gospel said he came to fulfill that law and that the greatest in his Kingdom would be those who put that word into practice and taught others to do the same. Moses exclaimed, “For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law that I am setting before you today?” He added that the Israelites should rejoice in that gift of mercy and pass it on to their children and grandchildren as a means by which to grow closer to the God who through his word and commandments has drawn near to us.
Yesterday we pondered how great a gift of God’s mercy it is that God has spoken to us in his word and his commandments. 
The following points were attempted in today’s homily: To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below: Sacred Heart Convent of the Sisters of Life, Manhattan
Retreats for Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians.
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