Jeremiad
The Old Testament canticle for Lauds this morning is from Jeremiah (14:17-21). Every time this one comes around on the cycle, I think of what is going on, not just in Iraq, but in a wide swath of nations running from Afghanistan into north and central Africa
Let my eyes stream with tears day and night without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest
forage in a land they know not.
Have you cast Judah off completely?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.
For your name’s sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
It’s easy to look at all the terrible violence in our world and throw up our hands in despair. I’m often tempted to do that myself. It’s helpful to know that our ancestors in faith wrestled with the same thoughts and even brought those thoughts into their liturgy.
Christmas both fulfills and confounds our messianic hopes. What we long for is—as tonight’s Vespers antiphon suggests—a “King of all the nations,” someone who will put an end to all of this violence and suffering that seems so senseless. But what we receive is a helpless child. From the very birth of that child, the powers of the world are conspiring to bring about His death and in the end He does not resist but gives them what they seek.
Is this the messiah in which we place our hopes? One whose response to violence is not to overwhelm it with even greater violence, but to trust in the coming of the kingdom that even now is present among us like a mustard seed? Do we have the courage to place our trust in such a messiah? To follow in His path? To carry His cross?
Well, do we?
Peter’s post reminded me of a true story Fr. Walter Burghardt included in one of his books of homilies. (I think it was “Christ in Ten Thousand Places,” but I’m not sure; all of Fr. Burghardt’s published homilies are challenging and inspiring.)
In the story recounted by Fr. Burghardt, a 7 or 8 year old boy is in the window of a burning building. He hears his father’s voice below, but he can’t see his father because of the smoke clouding his vision. The father shouts, “Jump!” The boy answers, “I can’t see you,” and the father replies, “But I see you. Jump!”
We hear God echoing in the OT and the NT, but we don’t always see Him, especially when, as Peter says, “it’s easy to look at all the terrible violence in our world and throw up our hands in despair.” In this joyous season, when God in infant form became Emmanuel, it’s reassuring to know that He sees us and that we can jump to safety.
A Happy and Holy Christmas to all who dwell in this corner of cyberspace.
Jesus said that a person’s foes are of her own household. Certainly true in that the Scribes and the Pharisees are always with us, mainly attempting to make our faith warlike and finding ways to keep the downtrodden under subjection.
Cassius said “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. ” We know what destruction such provocation brought for Brutus and Rome.
So many seeking glory on the backs of young men who will never lead a normal life again. Bush in his self ordainment as God’s man of our time. And does he have company in apocolyptic misdirection!
So sad that so many Christians make the US synonomous with Christianity. The old devil, Nationalism rears its ugly head, in every generation.
In no time in history has evil or good just been on one side. Yet too many of us say that about Islam. Hitler was evil but he duped millions of good people to fight for him.
We have to change the language or we get nowhere. If you can accept the last place then you will be in running for the first. If you treat the hostile Muslim’s wounds then you have an idea who your neighbor is.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…..As your Father in heaven does…
What self righteousness comes out of fallen wo/mankind!
Bill,
You are so angry. I genuinely feel for you. You must feel a great personal wound at the hand of the Church. I pray never to have such a terrible burden.
Perhaps you might yet find peace in the”the full expression of God,” in your memorable phrase.
mlj,
You know what Jesus said about the tepid and he did say he came to set fire on the earth
I am in my 72nd year and have not yet had to take medication for blood pressure.
I am grateful to God for every moment of my life and consider myself quite fortunate. I do have problems with Scribes and Pharisees as Jesus did.
The peace of God is not for those who hide their talent under a bushel nor for those who wage war.
Perhaps you need more direction.