Wednesday, March 16, 2022 (today’s lectionary)
Wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord
The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said, “Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah. Let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.”
And these foolish citizens of Jerusalem thought this cruel conspiracy meant nothing in their communion with Yahweh.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests, nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
Oh, my God, how wrong they were. When Jeremiah heard of their plotting against him, he complained to God. He often complained to God.
Heed me, O Lord and listen to what they say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? Please remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf.
God was father to Jeremiah’s son, but he mostly ignored Jeremiah’s frequent complaints. In his long years as Yahweh’s prophet, Jeremiah gave up complaining (sort of), and so could listen more.
Eyes Open
It is not in the darkness
of eyes-closed meditation that I find God
but with eyes open
the darkness
the mystery
the silence of God
communicates
directly to my heart
being
breathing
motionless beating
like the air
God and I are too close to touch
to grasp a hand first requires separation
and my illusion of separation is fading
– http://clarenceheller.com/march-14/
How many of us experience the fear expressed in Psalm 31? Perhaps we all do, and then … what happens next? The psalmist trusts God for rescue: “Free me, redeem me, save me, my trust is in you, in your hands is my destiny, rescue me.”
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
Jesus knew the words of Jeremiah like the back of his hand. He knew how much his own persecution paralleled that of Jeremiah. He must have been surprised that the mother of James and John didn’t quite get that. But he quickly used this moment with them to press his message of humility and service.
Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant. As the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
And I think of Jeremiah’s lament in chapter 3 of Lamentations.
I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light … he has made my skin grow old and has broken my bones … he has walled me in so I cannot escape, he shuts out my prayer. He pierced my heart and I became the laughingstock of all my people, he has broken my teeth with gravel and trampled me in the dust.
But don’t stop reading. Sit and be still. Do not stop waiting for hope in the midst of rejection and pain. Watch how Jeremiah’s humility and service carries him out of complaint into the presence of his Father.
My soul is downcast within me, yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Jesus knew he would travel this road. The rest of us get to know it too.
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord … let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust, there may yet be hope. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.
Painting by Rembrandt, 1630, “Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem,” Rijksmuseum
(Jeremiah 18, Psalm 31, John 8, Matthew 20)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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