Fallen Hut

Thus says the LORD: On that day I will raise up the fallen hut of David. I will wall up its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old. That they may conquer what is left of Edom and all the nations that shall bear my name, say I, the LORD, who will do this.Yes, days are coming, says the LORD, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the vintager, him who sows the seed. 

The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains, and all the hills shall run with it. I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits. I will plant them upon their own ground; never again shall they be plucked from the land I have given them, say I, the LORD, your God. (Amos 9:11-15)

Amos speaks of the fallen hut of David to be raise up with breaches walled up and ruins being rebuilt.  He speaks of Israel to be restored with its people never again to be plucked from their land.  We should listen to him because his warning is just as relevant today.  

Our Church always risks being a “fallen hut” and breached caused by division and bad behavior justifying criticism and condemnation from within and without.  We are experiencing a National Eucharistic Revival from Corpus Christi 2022 through Pentecost 2025.  This is a good thing; however, we risk falling if we divert our attention from what Jesus wanted: to love our neighbor as ourselves.  

The Body of Christ is not only held before us as the Eucharist.  We are that Body; therefore, we must never be satisfied when we consume the host.  That which we take into our body – Christ – is not a substitute for acting like Christ in our daily lives.  We leave Christ the King to glorify the Lord with our lives.  Our lives must reflect a willingness to forgive, to be compassionate, to listen to the other opinion and then to work for the common good.  If we don’t then we misunderstand the Eucharist.

What will happen from now until Pentecost 2025?  The mid-term election this year and then the Presidential Election of 2024.  If we truly want to revive the Eucharist, then our nation of Catholics must act as one Body and not continue to tear ourselves apart over issues reflecting our religious and political preferences.  Reviving the Eucharist should not be our sole preoccupation over these next three years at the expense of reviving our faith in each other and preserving our nation – one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

Deacon David Pierce