Day 228: The Watchman's Duty

Jeremiah 5:1-31 As mentioned in other prophecies, Jeremiah cites the infidelity of the people of Judah and their failure to repent. Furthermore, the people ignored the prophet’s warnings and admonitions. Though they would be conquered and exiled to foreign lands, God promised that a remnant, repentant and converted, would return. Jeremiah repeated that their trust in foreign powers prompted divine punishment. (CCC 1740, 2088)


Ch 5:7 Adultery is marital infidelity involving sexual relations between a married person and another who is not his or her spouse. In the Old Testament adultery served as a metaphor for idolatry when applied to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Adultery is a grave offense against the Sixth Commandment; Christ taught that even the desire to commit adultery is a grave evil (cf. Mt 5:27-28). (CCC 2380)


Ezekiel 33:1-9 Ezekiel resumed his role as the watchman over Israel who transmitted God’s Word to his people regardless of whether they accepted it or not. By this time, Jerusalem had fallen, giving the prophet greater responsibility as a watchman amid conflict. Now his mission was to address those who had been unfaithful to the covenant, moving them to repentance and conversion.


Ch 33:10-20 The exiled Jews, knowing that their plight was due to their sins, realized that repentance and forgiveness would lead God to forgive and show mercy. No sinner is ever beyond redemption and forgiveness no matter how grave the sin. The belief that we cannot be forgiven is a sin of DESPAIR in violation of the First Commandment. (CCC 2091)


Ch 33:21-33 Everyone sinned to some extent and faced chastisement. All, therefore, were called to acknowledge their sins and to seek repentance and conversion. 

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise and glory. Gosh, Lord God, thank you for continuing to put before us wisdom as a goal. And not just wisdom as the end, but wisdom as the goal to have so that we can have you as our end. That you can be the one thing that our hearts are set upon. Lord God, in all the stuff that we have to do, in all the people we have to love, in all the things that we care about in our lives, they are gifts. And yet they can oftentimes take our eyes off of you, off of the giver. So please, Lord God, help us to have our eyes fixed on you. To have our hearts fixed on you. To have all of our desires fixed on you so much that we desire nothing more than to live wisely so that we can attain you, that we can have you as the source and center of our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”