Readings:
Lamentations 1-3
Hebrews 12

Lamentations 1-3

Today we start another book, and this one is a natural progression from the book of Jeremiah. One reason for this is the topic, it’s mostly a poetic work with the author lamenting the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and how it now lays in ruins. The other reason is that it’s often thought to be written by Jeremiah as a sort of post script to all his warning about the coming destruction.

Jeremiah mourns for the once great and beautiful city, for the temple, and most of all he mourns the loss of life. Even though his entire career as a prophet has been spent warning the king and the people of this exact moment, the reality and sorrow of it all just seems too much for him to bear. He says he’s weeper so much for the city that his eyes are spent.

But even in the midst of all this sorrow and despair, we hear about the mercy and faithfulness of God. That his mercy endures forever and is renewed everyday. Hope is never fully lost for those who rely on God.

Hebrews 12

In the previous chapter the writer tells us stories and examples of faith throughout Israel’s history, and then begins here by saying this “cloud of witnesses” surround us, likening them to a crowd in a stadium that cheers on the athletes in a race. This is what we mean when we refer to the The Communion Of Saints.

The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were “put in charge of many things.” Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.

CCC 2683

And we look to Jesus as the ultimate example of faith and endurance. He endured abuse at the hands of sinners, even though he was perfect and sinless, and it should encourage us to endure any suffering we may come across. He also says that discipline from a father is a sign of love not hatred, because even earthly fathers discipline their children. It’s not fun and not something a good father ever looks forward to, but if you don’t discipline your children it’s actually worse that whatever temporary punishment you mete out.

Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them.

Archbishop Fulton J Sheen

We’ve been reading through the events leading up to the exile in the Old Testament, and as bad as that event was, it ended up knocking the idolatry out of their heads. So it was strong medicine, but it was better for them in the long run.

He then again compares the old and new covenant in an effort to prevent the readers from being tempted back into the mosaic sacrificial economy (another indicator of this book being pre AD70).

Jesus’ blood speaks “more graciously than Abel’s” and this is calling back to when Cain killed his brother, and God said his blood cried out for vengeance from the ground. But the blood of Christ that was spilled for us pleads for grace and forgiveness. This blood of the new covenant is far superior to the blood of a bull that sealed the old covenant. And he follows that up by warning not to “refuse him who is speaking.”

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Lamentations 4-5
Hebrews 13