Rev. George Miller
November 28, 2021
Jeremiah 29:4-14
Imagine if you will, that 3,000 years from now there will be a New
New Testament added to the Bible.
It would contain books about the Crusades, the Holocaust, and COVID.
Imagine theologians 3,000 years in the future will attempt to put these
events under the lens of theology, a God who cares about justice and kindness, who
gets upset when AGAPE love is denied.
How would a New New Testament describe historical events, God, and
our handling of COVID?
Imagine, 3,000 years from now there was a prophet named Judy Jetson, flying
around in a sky machine, with her assistant Rosey the Robot.
Her task is to take the events of COVID 19 and write about them in a biblical
way.
What would Judy Jetson say about America circa 2020-21?
Perhaps she would start her New New Testament Book by writing “Behold in the land of USA, surrounded by two
seas, lived a people who descended from 13 ancient tribes with names like
Virginia and Vermont.”
“God looked upon the people and wondered ‘Why do I see half a million
people homeless? Why are 37 million
people in poverty while the rich hold great banquets? Why are 2 million people behind bars?’
‘Have my commandments not been clear?
Didn’t my Son remind them of what to do?’”
Imagine, Judy Jetson continues her prophetic writing.
“Behold, in the year of Avengers-END Game, a plague spread across USA. A
plague spread by breath and people crammed into close quarters.”
“God spoke to the people through doctors and nurses, science and research,
saying-
‘Heed my commands- wear a mask, wash your hands, avoid unclean gatherings,
maintain a 6-foot distance, and go to CVS for a vaccine which I am freely giving
to you.”
“But the people did not listen.
The people refused to wash their hands.
They refused to avoid large gatherings.
They refused to mask. They
refused to heed the words of the prophets and medical experts God had sent.”
“So the people suffered. The
plague spread across the land. 45
million people came down with the disease.”
“Still, the people did not obey the commands they were given to have
abundant life. 750,000 died- women,
grandparents, children, police.”
Imagine 3,000 years from now this is the story read on a Sunday in some
futuristic church with people shaking their head, saying-
“Why didn’t those USArilites listen to Judy? Why didn’t they listen to God? We would never be that unfaithful.”
Imagine.
That’s exactly what we are doing today, as we read the words of the Prophet
Jeremiah, trying to make sense of a culture, a time, a historical crisis we
could never fully understand.
But we can try.
Jeremiah is writing to a group of people who have undergone great suffering. He’s telling them the hard truth while also giving
them a reason to have hope and hold on.
Here is the story of what’s happened 3,000 ago in the land of Judah-
The people had forgotten that they were Citizens of Heaven. They had forgotten how to take Sabbath.
Instead of following God’s teachings, they took the ideas they liked best
from here and there.
Instead of valuing community, the land, and being part of something bigger
than themselves, they became all about me, Me, ME.
All while the land, the widowed, the orphan, and the immigrant
perished.
This made the people vulnerable. An
enemy from another nation came in, attacked their Temple, their homes, and destroyed
their businesses
Then the enemy carried them to a place called Babylon, 550 miles away.
There the Children of God suffered greatly. They had no place to worship. They were mocked for their beliefs.
The people were in great despair, waiting to go back to their native
land.
So they gave up hope.
They were depressed. They became targets
to false prophets who told them “Don’t worry- in 2 years this will all be over,
and just like that, it will disappear, you’ll go back home, and things will be
exactly as they were.”
But Jeremiah knew different. He read
the signs and paid attention to the political climate. He knew the people were going to be in
Babylon for their entire lifetime.
Under the direction of God, filled with the AGAPE Love of a Heavenly
Father who carries their children, Jeremiah knew the best thing he could do is
to tell the people the truth.
So he did.
By telling the truth, he empowered the Children of God to move from grief
into acceptance, from darkness into some kind of light.
And with the gift of acceptance, he also gave them hope.
What did Jeremiah tell the people?
He says “Listen, beloved- we are in a horrible situation. Despite what others tell you, and despite
what you want to believe, this is going to be our way of living for the rest of
our life.”
“So instead of denying it and fighting amongst ourselves, accept this
reality and live the best possible life you can.”
Jeremiah tells the people who are living 600 miles away from Jerusalem-
“This is your new residence. So
build yourself a house and turn it into a home.
Hang pictures on the wall; plant
a garden with beautiful flowers.”
“Care for your property, prune your trees, feed the birds, grow fresh
food that will nourish your body.”
To a group of despondent, depressed people, Jeremiah says “This may not
be where you want to be, but this is where you are.”
“So do your best. Become part of
the city; get to know your neighbors.”
“The more you bless this community, the more it will bless you back and
bring you a sense of peace.”
To those who think there is no future, Jeremiah says “Make love and have
babies. Let your daughters and sons get married. Fill your homes with the cooing and crying of
grandchildren.”
“Live,” is what Jeremiah says to the people. “Live your best possible life.”
“When others tell you this will be over soon, don’t believe them. But believe this- the Lord does have a plan.”
To the people, he says “God is not asleep. God knows exactly here you are. When you speak to God, God will hear. When you seek, God will find you. When you turn your heart to God, God will
bless you in ways you can’t imagine.”
“Live” is what Jeremiah says.
Live. Perhaps there is no greater
word we can hear today.
We know that so many of you are not existing the way you want to.
We know some have had to move out of your homes, either to assisted
living, or back up north.
And it is hard; it is not easy. We’re
not denying that. But God says “Live.” In the space you are in, make it the most
beautiful space possible, and live.
We know some of you are undergoing serious health issues in which you are
stuck at home or in rehab.
God says “Live.” In the space you
are in, welcome the help of others, do your exercises, get your rest, and live.
We know many of us are so, so far away from where you were born and our
families of birth, and holidays only make that distance worse.
But God says “Live.” Reach out to
a neighbor. Treat yourself to a meal. Volunteer.
We know for many of us, this is a holiday season in which it feels like
death has kidnapped our loved ones away- our Mom, our spouse, our child, our
best friend, our dog or cat.
But God says “Live.” Hold onto
their memory and recall their stories, and when you cry, I will be beside you.
For all of us living in a time of COVID, in which parties, parades, travel,
banquets, worship, in store shopping is not a reality, God says “Live.”
“Search me out and you will find I am there. Give me your heart, and I will enfold you
with my AGAPE Love.”
Friends- we as a nation are still in the thick of it. Most likely things in our lifetime will
never, ever go back to how they were.
But it does not mean we lose hope.
It does not mean we give in. It
does not mean we victimize or punish ourselves.
It means we grieve, we mourn, we acknowledge, we accept, we move on.
And we live.
As Children of God, we live.
As Citizens of Heaven, we live.
As Sisters and Brothers in Christ, we live.
As bearers of God’s AGAPE love, we live.
For that, we say “Amen.”
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