In today's first reading, Jeremiah 14: 17-22, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, tells us that He sobs,"without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over here incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword..." What God sees today, I believe, are those slain by automatic rifles, machine guns, chemicals, and war machines of all kinds. God goes on to tells us through the prophet that, as He walks around, He sees "those consumed with hunger"--hunger, I believe, for justice, honesty, integrity; for compassion, patience, reconciliation, acceptance; hunger for hope and love and forgiveness!
Humankind, Jeremiah says, also responds to God in desperation: "Have you cast Judah (put in the name of any nation on earth) off completely? Is Zion (or other peoples) loathsome to you? Why, [we complain,] have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace [and justice and integrity], to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead." Every night, as we watch the news with you, Lord, we hear of ongoing corruption, destruction, violence and hatred spreading across our land, our country and other countries!
With Jeremiah, we "recognize...our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers [and our own guilt]; that we have sinned against you," O Lord. Have mercy on us, Lord. Open our eyes to the evil in which we may be involved. Also deepen our awareness of colluding with others in their evil intent, especially when another's eyes are blind and ears deaf to the wickedness of their ways.
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