This Lenten-towards-Easter season has had readings from the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s story was always a bit obscure for me growing up; I was never quite aware of the book’s narrative arc and interconnectedness to the stories of the fall and subsequent exile of Judah.
Today’s reading (Jeremiah 15:10-21) included a key part of “Jeremiah’s Complaint” before the Lord:
Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
I did not sit in the company of revelers,
nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,
for you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail?
And then God’s response:
“If you return, I will restore you,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
declares the Lord.
I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
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Today was another busy day, with two meetings before the school day actually started, two classes, an assembly, a meeting . . . and that’s all before a meeting at church in the early evening. Things should calm down after tomorrow, just in time for my own little version of the Easter Triduum.