Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1
Proper 20 (25) - Year C
After 40+ years of legislated United Methodist discrimination against gays and lesbians based on a false theology/reality of their lives being incompatible with “Christian teaching”, this section of Jeremiah seems all too real.
There comes a time for anger after all the failed attempts to honor the wideness of G*D’s gifts and calls. Building relationships has not changed hearts, scripture analysis has not changed minds, and inclusive legislation has not changed votes. It needs to be recognized that there is no current balm in the United Methodist Church. More church trials are on their way.
Enough weeping! It is time for targeted anger and moving on. Check out three websites for directed action.
Reconciling Ministries Network
Regarding full disclosure, I am a part of Love Prevails. I especially encourage you to visit the website, engage, and follow through to:
- Disclose(t) your support of G*D’s gifts and call to LGBTQI people.
- Divest from financial support of a discriminatory system and reinvest in one of the above.
- Disrupt wherever possible the thinking and action of all parts of the institutional church that are silent about the current discrimination and thereby aid and abet it.
I also encourage you to like the Love Prevails Facebook page
May the refusal of gifts and call (slaying the spirit) and complicity in LGBTQI suicides (slaying the body) end practically now and legislatively at the next General Conference.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/09/jeremiah-818-91.html
Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 or Amos 8:4-7
O God, security plans are in place, preemption is the operating principle of the day, and we are not saved. We used to talk about all this in pastoral terms of harvests and summers, but we are urban now and just because some tomato pickers are unhappy with their pay and benefits doesn't mean you have to take their side against those of us who have acted in the same way you modeled for us - judgment and wrath first; questions second.
Yes, it's too bad they have to suffer, but suffering is redemptive, don't forget that. If we're going to have a souffle life a few eggs are going to have to be broken.
Life is hard enough to enjoy without you jumping all up and down about selling a bushel of flour a couple of cups short and being sure the minimum wage doesn't impact the ideal corporation's personal due.
You've overlook so much evil along the way and so many people have gotten hurt without your intervening on their behalf, it just doesn't make any sense for you to get so bent out of shape about a lousy pair of sandals for some peasants.
You're killing us here, G*D, get a grip, let's get real and if you'll just look away one more time, we'll get you a nice temple for us to have Thanksgiving turkey together.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/september2004.html
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 or Amos 8:4-7
Basic questions: Is the Lord not in Zion? [the king is missing in action] Did our hard work not pay off? [harvest and pleasure (summer) have come and gone - our economy is missing in action]
To focus on the economy question that is so real in so many people's lives (poverty is up - it must be a growth industry), Jeremiah's realization is analyzed by Amos - Sabbath gets in the way of our next sale (by definition, at the highest possible profit level) and the blessed and follow Jacob (tricking the less blessed out of their birthright for a little silver or pair of sandals).
No wonder there is heartsick grief always at hand. Everyone is complicit, even the complainers about it hug their silver or sandals, even G*D is slow to do anything but weep. This state of affairs can never be forgotten, only and finally moved on from.
- - -
is there no balm in gilead
well yes there is
no physician there
again yes
even Elijah
sprang forth there
everything needed is present
except of course understanding
and so we weep
long and hard we weep
unendingly long we weep
where is our health
where is our care
where is our health care
in the hands of merchant
and politician
rolled and squeezed
until there is no balm left
weep with Jeremiah
denounce with Amos
now get up and on
there is a balm
it is for all
now
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html
In The Jewish Study Bible the versification is different, 8:18-23. Don't trust any classification system. All of them will too soon lose the poetic soul of the experience written of as they divide, and divide again, a whole experience - dissection cannot find a soul.
Just before these words at hand (8:13-17), Jeremiah is informed of G*D's decision to put an end to the people - to harvest them (and not in a good way).
I like the translation of verse 18 in The Jewish Study Bible. They note the meaning is uncertain, which always give a bit of liberty.
"When in grief I would seek comfort,
My heart is sick within me."
Jeremiah has heard extremely bad news and is looking for an out and only finds tears available to him. And this is confirmed in verse 21:
"Because my people is shattered I am shattered;
I am dejected, seized by desolation."
There is no healing balm available to the poor - the poor in G*D but rich in various idols.
Only weeping is left.
The spiritually poor lose track of G*D and their own Self. This shows up in the way they deal with One Another, Neighbors, and Enemies. They are already in exile before they even know exile to be a vague, far-off possibility that they will not be able to avoid.
Well, Friends of Jeremiah, a dishonest spirit is as troublesome as dishonest wealth. They go together. Whichever comes first, the other is sure to follow. So, given where we are and the predictability of another exile for any nation claiming to be a city on a hill, a beacon, without actually doing the hard work necessary to have us simply be a neighboring city and to only be a steel against which another's flint is struck, it is time to weep.
We are harvesting the accumulation of dishonest wealth and dishonest spirit. This is worth weeping over as we are too far gone to reasonably shift gears. In fact the pace of a coming exile is increasing. Those with ears can hear it grinding and slouching forward. Be not surprised. Simply do the cleansing work of weeping that keeps clear a larger vision beyond this particular desolation and grief:
Peace and Joy abound
take all you need
and a little more
to pass around