Human Depravity

Gospel: Matthew 11: 20-24

In the Old Testament the characterization of God and mercy was that a person had to perform a certain action before receiving mercy, e.g. sacrifice a bull or such.  Or, mercy would be extended only after a harsh punishment was placed upon the people such as a plague or exile.  People would alter behavior, but only to avoid pain.  Little evidence exists that the change was deep-seeded.  It was certainly not long lasting as this cycle repeated itself over and over again.

Jesus takes a different approach.  He extends mercy in the hopes that people will respond deeply to his offer of love.  In today's Gospel portion he laments the fact that such has not been the case.  People are healed, demons are removed, people are fed and nourished.  Yet, little change of behavior can be observed.  This reality says far more about our human depravity than it does about the approaches to such depravity noted above.  No matter what the approach, we humans continue on our wayward way.

We human beings might speak of progress in our race with little actual evidence to suggest such is actually the case.  The body counts, the corruption, the hypocrisy all point to a different conclusion.  We may have progressed in our technology and the like, but our moral progress as a species has not moved positively in a forward direction.  We might well wonder what difference Jesus has made.  Only those who have responded to his love and mercy can say for sure.  It is the only solution to our human depravity.