How many times have you told someone in your life how to do something, and they chose another way, and you wanted more than anything to say, “I told you so!”? Maybe you’ve even gone so far as to actually say it. The whole thing about saying “I told you so!” is that it’s kind of a writing off of the other person, sort of washing your hands of the outcome of their decisions.
But how much more could God say, “I told you so!” to us? How many ways have we been warned about doing the wrong thing, or been shown the path to the right thing, and have gone astray anyway? We have the Scriptures to show us the way – do we immerse ourselves in them? We have the Church to show us the way – do we look for her direction? We have prayer and Sacrament to show us the way – do we live in that? So how much more would God be justified in saying, “I told you so!” Yet, he doesn’t. Instead he keeps offering us mercy, keeps speaking to our hearts, through Scripture, the Church, prayer and Sacrament – he keeps on inviting us back.
We are going to hear that invitation today, so let’s decide now that when we do, we will listen to it with all our attention, and let it permeate our hearts. May we let it guide the thoughts of our minds, the words of our lips, and the affections of our hearts.
As the Psalmist invites us today: If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.