Jeremiah 28:5-9
Proper 8 (13) - Year A
The Spiritual Formation Bible suggests your journal entry for today begin with, "What I Don't Want to Hear From God."
I don't want to hear that things are going to get worse before they get better. I don't want to hear that the problem is with me, not with someone else. I don't want to hear that I need to dramatically stand up to the powers that be and say, "I don't trust you." I don't want to wait to see.
I yearn to hear that the economy will only go up from here. I desire to be assured that the problems of the world can be targeted on one group (or another, it doesn't really matter which group). I hanker for someone I can turn decisions of state and personhood over to. I crave and lust after immediate results.
What have you resisted hearing?
That's a pretty sneaky way to get us to hear what we need to hear.
Is this the missing part from Psalm 13? Instead of just complaining, did the Psalmist finally listen to what they didn't want to hear and come to rejoice at their ability to enter into a meaning and purpose of life beyond being top dog?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/june2002.html
Jeremiah 28:5-9 or Genesis 22:1-14
Peace and Welcoming are only proved in their doing. It is one thing to pronounce peace and another to live it. It is one thing to announce a welcome and another to demonstrate it. Both Peace and Welcome are demanding masters. They are such large visions with so much detail within. It is best to be a bit humble while visiting these holy ones in these holy places.
How does one bring about reconciliation and welcoming in the midst of a view of life based on sacrifice and "redemptive violence"? Obviously it take a new word from the outside that sometimes needs to be repeated and repeated before it begins to be seen as a crack through which new life can come.
An anthem that comes to mind here is Anthem by Leonard Cohen, Audio File [MISSING URL] - Lyrics.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/june2005.html
Jeremiah 28:5-9 or Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm 13 or Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42
Welcoming is bedrock evangelism. A first rule of thumb of expressing our discipleship is to love one another and, presuming we are expanding our "one another", its logical extension is that of hospitality.
So we need to welcome the unexpected goat or exile. It saves us from inbred craziness (slaughter of our own) and denial of our common family (if they have been away).
In so doing we will find G*D's absent face wasn't so absent after all and we are part of the generations who experience steadfast love in the midst of every wavering.
Thanks be that we are not limited to the sin of self-assurance and closed doors. Our escape from such sin is a participation in welcoming.
- - -
sit in a new house
experience its idiosyncrasies
wonder where its secrets lie
where children were hurt
what kept blessings from flowing
who was exiled here
or escaped exile
if walls talked
what shame and glory
would come forth
were its doors ever opened wide
or barricaded even more tightly
how will we interact
enough of sitting
though not enough
a start is a cup of cold water
taken through the house
sprinkled here
there and everywhere
that more cups
will be ready
when family and strangers
call
and beckon them in
before they know
their need