And you have said, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Therefore, listen, O house of Israel. How could it be that My way is not fair? And is it not instead your ways that are perverse? (Ez 18:25)
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲדַרְכִּי֙ לֹ֣א יִתָּכֵ֔ן הֲלֹ֥א דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵֽנוּ׃
Et dixistis: “Non est aequa via Domini”. Audite ergo, domus Israel: Numquid via mea non est aequa, et non magis viae vestrae pravae sunt?
Way (דֶּרֶךְ derek), this seemingly ordinary noun in Hebrew, has many meanings and uses: “journey”, “behavior”, “way of conduct or life”, “custom” and even “fate”. Also, “salvation history” can be defined as “the way of salvation.” God, the creator of wisdom, is keenly interested in the good result of the life orientation of human life. Still, it often happens that a person goes his way and wanders away from happiness and goodness. It is worth noting that the prophet Ezekiel made from “the way” the prophetic theme”, understood as “a way of conduct”.
Indeed, in today’s first reading (Ez 18,25-28) Israel criticizes God that His behavior (דֶּרֶךְ derek) is wrong, and in response we hear the voice of God who, through the mouth of the prophet, asks Israel a question: “How could it be that my way (דֶּרֶךְ derek) is not fair, And is it not instead your ways (דֶּרֶךְ derek) that are perverse?”.
As we have undoubtedly noticed, Ezekiel uses the word “way” when talking about the behavior of God and man, as many as 6 times in two sentences. Whoever turns from his evil behavior, that is, from his wrong way, will live. It is also worth noting that in verse 23, which precedes our passage, God says: “How could it be My will that an impious man should die, and not that he should be converted from his ways and live?”. The verb “converted” in the original Hebrew precisely means “returned from his way.”
Today’s Gospel (Mt 21:28-32) contains the words of Jesus about John the Baptist, who, as He says, came to Israel “by the way of righteousness” and they did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes do. Israel saw sinners converted thanks to John but did not even think about changing anything, which is why tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven first. It is often difficult for us, blinded by our own opinions, to find God’s way, so it is worth praying in the words of today’s Psalm (Ps 25): “Direct me in Your truth (דֶּרֶךְ derek), and teach me. For you are God, my Savior, and I remain with You all day long”.
