Ado Annie, a character in the play, Oklahoma, sings this song: “It ain’t so much a question of not knowin’ what to do. I knowed what’s right an’ wrong since I’ve been ten… I know I mustn’t fall into the pit but when I meet a feller, I forget.” The prophet Jeremiah chides the people for not heeding God’s commands. Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you. Like Ado Annie we know what we are supposed to do but find ourselves doing otherwise. Jesus reminds us in the gospel that what will enable us to follow God’s commands is not our own will power but “the finger of God,” God’s presence in our hearts. We turn to God and beg for the grace to become more kind, more loving, more forgiving, more compassionate.
