18 December 2020
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Jeremiah 23:5-8 NRSV
Jeremiah’s words of hope and promise came at the darkest and lowest of times for the people of Judah. Not only had their nation been divided but they faced impending exile in Babylon. Just as they must have been thinking that all was lost, Jeremiah promises that there will come a time when their nation will be restored and ruled by a righteous king. There were many years more – about six hundred – before this promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, but this flash of hope must have brought some light into a very dark place.
- Why do think that God wanted the people of Judah to hear these words ?
- Have you ever experienced a glimmer of hope in the middle of a difficult situation?
Spend some time in prayer, especially for those who continue to be affected by the Covid pandemic. You may find this prayer helpful
Dear Lord,
At this time of pandemic,
Let us foster respect and solidarity with others, especially those who are weak or poor.
Let us remain calm and ignore unsubstantiated rumours.
Let us take advantage of living together as a family.
Let us attend to moments of prayer.
Let us cultivate responsibility, patience and hope.
Amen.
Prayer adapted from a radio message from Rodolfo Valenzuela Núñez, Bishop of La Verapaz, Guatemala
Image by Richard Gunther – www.richard.gunther.org
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