28 Jul 2026
Distressingly Resonant
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Speak to them this word:
Let my eyes stream with tears
night and day, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field,
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! victims of famine.
Both prophet and priest ply their trade
in a land they do not know.
Have you really cast Judah off?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize our wickedness, Lord,
the guilt of our ancestors:
we have sinned against you.
Do not reject us, for your name’s sake,
do not disgrace your glorious throne.
Remember! Do not break your covenant with us.
Among the idols of the nations are there any that give rain?
Or can the mere heavens send showers?
Is it not you, Lord,
our God, to whom we look?
You alone do all these things.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

General editor:
28 July 2026 @ 10:43 pm
Thank You ????
28 July 2026 @ 11:12 pm
Such powerful truth-telling! Thank you for challenging us to embrace the role of lament in our daily lives.
28 July 2026 @ 11:20 pm
Yes, persistent in Faith and Hope even as we lament!
28 July 2026 @ 11:30 pm
So deeply penetrating, Beth. I’m looking forward to carving contemplative space to allow Jeremiah’s lamentation to echo to our “distressingly resonant” world.
29 July 2026 @ 12:03 am
Thank you so much, Beth, for your words of truth about our world! Jeremiah was a prophet to those in Judah, your voice is prophetic to us today! Yes, lament followed by action can be our only response.
29 July 2026 @ 12:29 am
Right on, Beth! How will we turn our laments into dances of joy? Don’t we wish it were impressively simple?!?
29 July 2026 @ 1:34 am
Sr. Beth, thank you for reminding me that ignoring the news isn’t the only available response!
29 July 2026 @ 7:57 am
Thank you one and all for your gracious and thoughtful comments. Beth
29 July 2026 @ 8:10 am
Thank you, Beth, for your preaching. “Disturbingly Resonant” is the perfect title, as you identify the many distresses named by Jeremiah and show how they echo the brokenness of our own day, while also calling us, at our deepest core, to faith in God, the Source of Hope.