Today we have another promise from God. Jeremiah is bringing the message to the people of Israel. They have experienced the destruction of the Temple and have been taken into exile. It seems God has rejected and forgotten them. Jeremiah, who so often brings bad news, on this day brings hope, “in those days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell in confidence”. How important this hope is
for the people at the time. With this reading, the church also brings us a message of hope. That “virtuous branch of David” is Jesus, who is of the house of David, who saves and brings confidence.
In Jeremiah’s interpretation, the exile happened because the sinful people polluted the land. Is this happening in the world today? Let us consider how the modern world cares for the air, water, earth, diversity of plants and animals and each
other. Are we experiencing anxiety? Do we need a message of hope?
Whatever the circumstances, we are not to despair because God is at work, in all situations, in all times, “In those days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell in confidence”. Let us remember, though, that we have a part to play in response to God’s faithful and generous love. God has gifted us with the responsibility of cooperating and co-creating
with God. We are gifted with being so loved that God invites us to be Christ in the world by contributing to the flourishing of Creation and its fulfilment. God is at work, and we are invited to participate!
Hearing Jeremiah’s promise of God’s salvation, will I put my hope in this?
How am I living out my response to God’s love by contributing to the love in our world?
Do I recognise that each tiny prayer and act of love contributes to the whole of Creation?
Reflections by Kath Knowles
