Eleventh Day

Jeremiah 25.1; 26.2, 4-6, 11-16

25

This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim ben-Josiah, ruler of Judah, which coincided with the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon.

26

2 "Thus says YHWH: Stand in the court of the Temple of YHWH and speak to the people of all the villages of Judah who come to worship in the Temple of God. Whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing.

4 Say to them, 'It is your God who speaks: If you will not listen to me or live according to the Law I placed before you, 5 and if you will not listen to the words of my faithful prophets - I constantly send them to you, though you do not obey them!-6 I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city that all the nations of the earth will name when they wish a curse upon one another.'"

11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, "Jeremiah deserves to die! He has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears!"

12 But Jeremiah replied to the people: "YHWH alone sent me to say all the things you have heard against this Temple and this city. 13 So now reform your behavior and your actions, and listen to the voice of YHWH your God. If you do, YHWH will relent and not bring down on you the disaster that is planned for you. 14 As for myself, I am in your hands. Do with me as you think is good and right. 15 But mark well: If you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring upon yourselves, on this city, and on its citizens. For in truth it was YHWH who sent me to you, to speak all these things or you to hear."

16 The officials and the people then said to the priests and the prophets, "Jeremiah does not deserve to die. He spoke to us in the Name of YHWH."

“NO”

by Joy Harjo (b. 1951)

found in Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings (WW Norton, 2015)

Yes that was me you saw shaking with bravery, with a government issued rifle on my back. I'm sorry I could not greet you as you deserved, my relative.

They were not my tears. I have a reservoir inside. They will be cried by my sons, my daughters if I can't learn how to turn tears to stone.

Yes, that was me standing in the back door of the house in the alley, with fresh corn and bread for the neighbors.

I did not foresee the flood of blood. How they would forget our friendship, would return to kill me and the babies.

Yes, that was me whirling on the dance floor. We made such a racket with all that joy. I loved the whole world in that silly music.

I did not realize the terrible dance in the staccato of bullets.

Yes. I smelled the burning grease of corpses. And like a fool I expected our words might rise up and jam the artillery in the hands of dictators.

We had to keep going. We sang our grief to clean the air of turbulent spirits.

Yes, I did see the terrible black clouds as I cooked dinner. And the messages of the dying spelled there in the ashy sunset. Every one addressed: "mother."

There was nothing about it in the news. Everything was the same. Unemployment was up. Another queen crowned with flowers. Then there were the sports scores.

Yes, the distance was great between your country and mine. Yet our children played in the path between our houses.

No. We had no quarrel with each other.

Today’s Art Practice

What You’ll Need

From Your Home:

• Your phone's camera app (or a camera)

Directions: Shift your notion of photography from "taking" a picture to "receiving" a picture.

Think about a picture as a gift, a mystery, an experience of wonder and an opportunity for contemplation. Today prepare for five pictures, holding your phone or camera at waist level, focusing the camera on what looks interesting. Don't look through the viewfinder, rather let the camera surprise you as you "receive" five photos.

Afterwards, spend time meditating on what you have received, noticing surprises and new insights.

*For those participating in group discussion around this series, this would be a great project to share with one another.

If you like, this playlist can help you keep track of time. Once it stops playing, 20 minutes will be over.

Let’s Pray…

Take the Time

by Miriam Therese Winter

Take the time to sing a song

for all those people who don't belong:

the women wasted by defeat,

the men condemned to walk the street,

the down and out we'll never meet.

Take the time to say a prayer

for all those people who face despair:

the starving multitudes who pray

to make it through another day,

who watch their children slip away.

Take the time to hear the plea

of every desperate refugee:

the millions who have had to flee

their lands, their loves, their liberty,

who turn in hope to you and me.

Take the time to take a stand

for peace and justice in every land.

Where power causes deep unrest,

come, take the part of the oppressed,

and then, says God, you will be blessed.

May it be so. Amen.