Jeremiah 31:7-9
Proper 25 (30) - Year B
The NRSV has it that a "remnant" has been saved. The Message says "the core" has been saved.
Interesting to play with these.
The remnant of an apple is the core - a central and often foundational part usually distinct from the enveloping part by a difference in nature [core of the city]: as the usually inedible central part of some fruits (as a pineapple); especially : the papery or leathery carpels composing the ripened ovary in a pome fruit.
The core remnant of an apple carries on the species - a basic, essential, or enduring part (as of an individual, a class, or an entity).
Are you feeling like a left over piece in the bargain bin or right at the center of an expanding presence of G*D?
Whichever. Sing aloud. Weep aloud. Live.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/october2003.html
Jeremiah 31:7-9 or Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) or Psalm 126
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52
So many cry out for mercy!
They cry here and there, directing their cry in the direction of their heritage (that which narrowly points a direction to a source of mercy). So some cry inwardly. Some to a process that may alleviate suffering, Some to Allah the Merciful, or YHWH, or Jesus. Some to some yet unknown over an invisible horizon.
Those of us who are not an ultimate source of appeal for mercy are caught in the middle. We hear the cry. We hear a response to go to the crier and carry them to the source of mercy they seek.
We are in a privileged position and need to find it in ourselves to behave honorably within such - responding to both calls with alacrity even when we are not part of the system currently at work. As a Muslim we might help a crier to the Mercy of YHWH; as a Christian, to Allah the Merciful; as a Jew to Buddha's Paths; as Wiccan, Native Person of any tradition, Atheist, Egoist, New Ageist, or whatever, to any other journey.
This position is one of friendship that goes beyond Job's friends who had their own agenda of how mercy might be engaged. We help folks move to an experience of mercy rather than convince them of some reason for their suffering.
- - -
when our cries for mercy
found their source
and we were able
to cease our weeping
we were like those
who dream without
desiring to wake
our dream mouth
was filled with laughter
connected with joy
rather than irony
seeing new sources
for rejoicing
than our previous one
to find our dream
and our awaking
so closely allied
stunned our reason
into silence
weeping became
joy seed harvested