Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her—that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast…” vss. 10-11a
Isaiah 66:10-12
When Israel returned from captivity, Jerusalem was a mess–the walls were destroyed and the temple was a wreck. And the people who greeted them, those who had remained in the land, were not at all friendly. The prophet, instead of lamenting, tells the people to rejoice–even though they were sad, they had been born again, and now Jerusalem would be their mother, they could nurse and be satisfied. That’s what it’s like for us in our born again moments. We can wander far from faith, be taken captive by the world, and be pummeled by our adversaries–and when for some reason we are delivered and wander back to Mother Church, there is reason to rejoice. Because as bad as the Church may have become in our eyes, as sad as her situation may be, she remains for us the Body of Christ and from her consoling breast we still receive nourishment and satisfaction. From her bosom we can drink deeply of forgiveness, mercy, and love–all the things we need to begin growing again. Even when things look really bad and we despair at the prospect of any future at all for humanity, we can be confident of God’s presence. God and creation are inextricably linked.
Thought for the Day: How has Church been Mother to me?
0 Comments