[ Today's Readings ]
Even when the message seems bitter..
Lamentation and wailing and woe!
..the words of the LORD are sweet..
Son of man, he then said to me,
feed your belly and fill your stomach
with this scroll I am giving you.
I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
We are called to taste and see how good is the word of the LORD. His decrees are better than all riches. They are delightful. They give us counsel when we are in doubt. They are more precious than gold or silver. They are sweeter than honey to our mouths. The reason they are so good is first and foremost that they describe what lasts forever. They are words which do not pass away. We can trust in them. We can build on them. When we do, we can rest assured that our foundations are firm.
We have a hard time seeing how lamentation and wailing connect to anything joyful. But we need to remember that only impermanent things can be shaken. At minimum, these things teach us to put our treasure where it cannot be taken from us.
Let us be like little children and trust in the Father who gives us his words. He gives good gifts to his children. He makes all things work together for the good of those who love him. Let us not be proud, seeking words more to our palette, words with more glitz and glamour, less lamentation and woe. There is salvation in no other name but that of Jesus. Let us receive it. Let us confess it. We can trust that even if we wander and go astray he still seeks us out. When we truly come to trust that the Father has our good at heart we are ready to devour the words he gives us. We realize that he gives us not only words, but the Word of God, Jesus Christ. We do eat this word in Holy Communion. We are transformed into what we receive, tasting all sweetness within this gift of the Father for us.
I gasp with open mouth,
in my yearning for your commands.
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