August 17th - Reflection

Jeremiah 25:15-29 (NRSV)
The cup of God's wrath

For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and go out of their minds because of the sword that I am sending among them.

So I took the cup from the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink it: Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a desolation and a waste, an object of hissing and of cursing, as they are today; Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his officials, and all his people; all the mixed people; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines - Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod; Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites; all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastland across the sea; Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have shaven temples; all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed peoples that live in the desert; all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media; all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth. And after them the king of Sheshach shall drink.

Then you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink, get drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you.

And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord of hosts: You must drink! See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and how can you possibly avoid punishment? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts.

Reflection
And then I think forward in time...of a man sent to earth...a man yet...God...sent to earth to drink this cup of the wine of wrath...the wine of wrath that was intended for all of us to drink...this man...God...would drink this cup of the wine of wrath...for you...for me...for all...all for our punishment.

And you too will drink from this cup. In joy we drink from this cup. For we know of a love and compassion that saved us. In joy we drink, and in joy we bring that same love and compassion through the wine and the bread to this world...that all may see and understand...the man...God...who drank the cup of the wine of wrath...for you...for me...for all.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
As your disciple Lord, I know I drink from this same cup, but I go in the knowledge of a hope and joy fulfilled through you, into a hurting world, in your love and compassion. I go to work. I go in joy. --- Amen