Jeremiah 7: Remaining
Monday, September 9, 2019
This is what the prophet Jeremiah sees in Israel. It is what we humans too often find in one another. We try to rest in a relationship without growing in it. We find someone we think will allow us to be comfortable, who will in fact work at keeping everything at the status quo of first flush, who will not ask the question we do not want to answer, who will turn aside as we continue to worship our idol gods. We work hard at not suffering, not going to the limit, not growing. We work hard at keeping things static.
Von Speyr continues: In instructing his disciples, the Lord said many things to them that have much relevance for us and can become rules of conduct for us. He does not spare them; on each occasion he gives them the whole burden with which they must come to terms. “This is a hard saying”. “Let him understand it who can”. We see from this that the Lord accommodates his teaching as little as possible to mankind, so that those who follow him will not have the impression that they are equal to it.
No Christian – certainly no apostle – can ever be equal to the Lord’s teaching. All they could do was leave everything to him and follow him as well they were able, accepting the whole burden of his words in the certainty that even what was difficult, incomprehensible, or alienating in them was rightfully there, since it came from the Lord.
This is what Yahweh expected from Israel. It is what Jesus expected from his apostles. It is what the Lord expects from us: our fidelity to the call, our remaining with our call, our growing with that call . . . not our resting in it. No wonder so many relationships are broken rather than enduring. No wonder there is so much unhappiness rather than serenity. No wonder there is no peace, for we can only find true peace by answering . . . remaining . . . following . . . and growing. There is no other Way.
To the angry and to the envious: Grant us patience, Lord, grant us peace.
To the bitter and the persecuted: Grant us patience, Lord, grant us peace.
To the kind who find no kindness in others: Grant us patience, Lord, grant us peace.
To the compassionate who meet no compassion in others: Grant us patience, Lord, grant us peace.
To the forgiven who are not forgiven by others: Grant us patience, Lord, grant us peace.
May we remain with God as God remains with us. And may we grow in this remaining.
Written on August 5, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite.
Cameron, Peter John, Rev., ed. “Meditation for the Day,” and “Evening Prayer”. MAGNIFICAT. 5 August 2008. Print.
For more on Adrienne von Speyr click on the images above or go to : http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/authors/adrienne_von_speyr.asp
The Noontimes 