union with God – The Noontimes

Jeremiah 31:7-14: None Shall Stumble

Jeremiah 31:7-14: None Shall Stumble

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Jeremiah encourages the faithful to keep eyes fixed on God, to remember that God is both the source and goal of our being. Our journey here on earth is one of working in the vineyards of the Kingdom, of witnessing to injustices committed against the marginalized, and of waiting on God’s plan in God’s time. Jeremiah tells us that the faithful are guarded and led out of exile. He reminds us that the remnant that was scattered is gathered up in hope and loved with passion. The blind and the lame, mothers and those with child, those who departed in tears . . . all departed in sorrow will return in an immense throng . . . and none shall stumble. This is the best kind of news we can hope to hear.

The daily drone of life wears down our defense against pain. The monotony of waking each morning to hope endlessly in a better day saps our resources. The aridity of the desert dries up the wells we frequent for refreshment. The oases are further apart; our rest stops do not sustain us as they once had. We have difficulty celebrating the good news we know is upon us, and it is difficult for us to believe that none shall stumble.

When the life we have arranged for ourselves fails us we have two options: we can turn away from the pain of our suffering, or we can turn toward our grief where God waits to sweep us into waiting arms.

Richard Rohr has something to tell us about this in his book Job and the Mystery of Suffering: Spiritual Reflections (pages 54-55).

“We must go through the stages of feeling, not only in the last death of anything but also in all the earlier little deaths. If we abort these emotional stages by easy answers, all they do is take a deeper form of disguise and come out in another way. So many people learn that the hard way—by getting ulcers, by all kinds of psychosomatic diseases, depression, chronic irritability, and misdirected anger—because they refuse to let their emotions run their course, honor them consciously, or find some appropriate place to share them.

“Emotions are not right or wrong, good or bad. They are merely indicators of what is happening, and must be listened to, usually in the body. People who do not feel deeply finally do not know or love deeply either. It is the price we pay for loving. Like Job we must be willing to feel our emotions and come to grips with the mystery in our head, our heart, and our body. To be honest, that takes years”.

We live in a world of instant replay, quick solutions, smiling gurus, and impatience with suffering. Jeremiah speaks to the faithful who understand that living well is not about covering over or covering up but of delving deep and allowing the fiery furnace of pain to refine us as we witness, work and wait. Job understands the intensity of suffering innocently. Rohr tells us that our pain is not a punishment but an acknowledgement of our eagerness to be one with God. We know that the journey is long and steep. We know that our yearning for God means that we are remnant. And we know that with God . . . none of the faithful shall stumble.

A re-post from November 12, 2011.

Foe thoughts on suffering, click on the image or visit: https://foundation.mycatholicdoctor.com/why-does-god-allow-suffering/

December 7, 2025

God as both source and goal, Job, remnant, reward, Richard Rohr, suffering, union with God, witness-watch-work-wait

Luke 24:13-23: Slowness of Heart

Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Luke 24:13-32

Slowness of Heart

Oh how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

If only we might realize that we are Emmaus People, a people who hold a truth too wonderful to keep secret.

Two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing and debating.

If only we might remember that we are Emmaus People, a people who know that disappointment and despair wither in the face of courage and hope.

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes prevented them from recognizing them.

If only we might recall that we are Emmaus People, a people living the victory of light over darkness, of life over death.

What are you discussing as you walk along?

If only we might affirm that we are Emmaus People, a people accompanied by a God who loves us intensely and forever.

Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?

If only we might avow that we are Emmaus People, a people in the constant companionship of Jesus, our brother.

What sort of things?

If only we might believe that we are Emmaus People, a people in whom the Spirit resides, bringing us Wisdom and Peace.

The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.

If only we might trust that we are Emmaus People, a people chosen by God, made in God’s image, held in God’s intimacy.

We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel.

If only we might share the Good News that we are all Emmaus People, a people saved and protected, a people guarded, loved and called.

Oh how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

If only we might realize that we are Emmaus People, a people created and living in union with God, a people holding a truth too wonderful to keep secret.

We travel the road to Emmaus with Jesus at our side, with Jesus engaging us in conversation, with Jesus breaking bread and sharing himself with us. Let us be quick of heart rather than slow. Let us be joyful in spirit rather than downcast. And let us tell the world how our hearts are burning with the fire of Christ’s love.

Tomorrow, return to Jerusalem . . .

Images from: http://www.laboringinthelord.com/2011/02/16/who-is-the-church-part-2/ and http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/caravaggio/

April 5, 2020

Emmaus People, union with God

James 3:13-18: Authentic Wisdom

James 3:13-18: Authentic Wisdom

Friday, December 6, 2019

I love this letter. We do not visit it often enough. Today’s reading is particularly interesting to me as I notice that in my Spanish Biblia verse 16 the Spanish is envidia (envy) rather than celos (jealousy). Thus in the Spanish version of James, we are called to put aside our envy – our wanting others to suffer loss – rather than mere jealousy – our wanting what others have. James is the patron saint of Spain – I wonder if they know him better than we English speakers do.

The reason I enjoy reading James is that he is so plain. There is no wondering about his words. He goes to the root causes of division and he makes strong suggestions for a positive change. He sees our obstacles as: pride, presumption, loose tongues, ambition, material goods. He recommends patience, forbearance, firmness of heart, perseverance, humility, confession, union with God.

From yesterday’s MAGNIFICAT Meditation by Jean Vanier: Many of us live in delusion about ourselves, unable to see ourselves as we really are. The veil [that prevents our encounter with Jesus] has to be broken somewhere in our deep inner being . . . Jesus is the healer, the One who comes to bring me life and liberate me from myself. He comes to heal me from my egoism, from aggressiveness. He comes to heal me from my anguish . . . It is a beautiful thing to meet people in deep anguish, who are able to say . . . that they are beginning to find peace . . . They know what it is to find pass from death to life. They know the quiet experience of the healing power of the Spirit.

James brings us the opportunity to take a long, hard look at ourselves. James lays out the parameters for living of life of Christ rather than a life outside of Christ. It is not difficult to discern our path once we take off our blinders.

It is the removal of the blinders that is difficult.

It is the taking down of the illusion that we resist.

It is the deconstructing all the ramparts of our fear that we have built up so earnestly that we reject. It is the disassembling of our false god that we have woven so meticulously that we fear.

What brings us healing? What brings us peace?

It is the coming to Christ with nothing but our actions.

It is the rising to the true challenge and purpose of our lives.

It is the revelation of ourselves unashamedly to our God.

It is the humbling of ourselves.

It is the asking of God for the strength to do his will.

This is what brings healing. This is what brings peace.

This baring of naked self leads to authenticity . . . This authenticity invites wisdom.

This wisdom engenders a life into which Christ easily steps.

For more on Authenticity, click on the image above or go to: http://elementsofyourlife.blogspot.com/2012/05/live-your-life-with-authenticity.html

Cameron, Peter John, Rev., ed. “Meditation for the Day.” MAGNIFICAT. 4 November 2008. Print.

LA BIBLIA DE LA AMÉRICA. 8th. Madrid: La Casa de la Biblia, 1994. Print.

Written on November 4, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite.

December 6, 2019

confession, delusions, envy, firmness of heart, forbearance, He recommends patience, humility, jealousy, Jean Vanier, perseverance, taking down walls, union with God

Tag: union with God

Jeremiah 31:7-14: None Shall Stumble

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Luke 24:13-23: Slowness of Heart

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James 3:13-18: Authentic Wisdom

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