Posts Tagged ‘Jeremiah 7:23-28’
The Future of God – Br. Curtis Almquist
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Br. Curtis Almquist
Psalm 95:6-11
Jeremiah 7:23-28
In our first reading the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to ancient Israel more than 2,600 years ago; however, the church has remembered these words in the Canon of Christian scripture because of their timeliness and authority for us today.[i] Jeremiah’s words are not just about from where we have come. They are God’s words to us now, coming to us from God’s future.[ii]
Jesus does not nullify Jeremiah’s prophecy; Jesus embodies Jeremiah’s prophecy in real time. Jesus affirms we are to obey God’s voice and walk only in the way God commands. If so, God will be our God and it will be well with us in our own day. But look around. It is not well with us today. Jeremiah’s prophecy has a cogency for us:
- a people stubborn in their evil will who listened only to themselves;
- a people who would not pay attention to God but stiffened their necks.
Resisting Change – Br. David Vryhof
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Br. David Vryhof
Jeremiah 7:23-28
Luke 11:14-23
If we were trying to come up with a theme for today’s lessons, I’d suggest the word “resistance.”
In the first reading, God reminds the Israelites of God’s generous offer: “I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and [you shall] walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.” But the Israelites very clearly don’t hold up their end of the bargain. They do not listen or obey, but instead they walk “in their own counsels.” Despite repeated pleas from the prophets, they continue to “stiffen their necks” and refuse to accept God’s guidance and discipline. Why? Why do they return again and again to their old lives, refusing the new way of life God is offering them?
In the story from Luke, the theme again is resistance. Jesus heals a man by casting out a mute demon. The mute man speaks, and the crowd is amazed, but some challenge him by questioning the source of his power and by demanding further signs. Why couldn’t they rejoice in the healing? Instead of rejoicing and following him, they stiffen in their resistance and refuse to accept Jesus’ words and deeds. Where does such resistance come from? What were they resisting and why? Read More