“Deaf Ears, Lame Limbs”

1 Samuel 3: 13, 18b: “For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them … Eli said, ‘It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him.’” Whenever the Lord sends a strong word of judgment, such as here or in today’s Gospel reading (Luke 21: 5-19), it is calculated to prompt evasive action in the receiver of the word (i.e., repentance.) But Eli did not hear God’s word; he did nothing to stave off God’s judgment. Thus, God’s sword fell. It was the same with Israel: They failed to hear Christ’s final word of warning to them, and the threatened “Days of Vengeance” came with tragic force.