At first glance, today's readings may seem overwhelmingly negative. However, we may use them to reflect on one of God's greatest gifts to us and the consequences of our use or misuse of them. God created human beings in His own image and likeness. He thought so much of us that He gave us free will. Thus human beings can freely accept or reject anything that God asks us to do. We are indeed free not to listen to the voice of the Lord our God. In Baruch we see that it will not go well with anyone who does reject God and turns to other things. Luke has another lesson. God does not deal with us directly. We need to listen to other human beings who represent Jesus. Rejection of them constitutes rejection of Jesus and ultimately rejection of the Father. God has provided us with all that will make us happy. His love for us is unconditional. If, however, we reject of our own free will the teachings of Jesus, then we are not following God's will and have to accept the consequences. God does not make us follow His will and teachings. We are free to follow or reject them at will, but if we do so, we do it at our own peril.