Pentecost +17 Sunday – C1

Pentecost +17 Sunday – C1

Years C
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 or Amos 8:4-7

Basic questions: Is the Lord not in Zion? [the king is missing in action] Did our hard work not pay off? [harvest and pleasure (summer) have come and gone - our economy is missing in action]

To focus on the economy question that is so real in so many people's lives (poverty is up - it must be a growth industry), Jeremiah's realization is analyzed by Amos - Sabbath gets in the way of our next sale (by definition, at the highest possible profit level) and the blessed and follow Jacob (tricking the less blessed out of their birthright for a little silver or pair of sandals).

No wonder there is heartsick grief always at hand. Everyone is complicit, even the complainers about it hug their silver or sandals, even G*D is slow to do anything but weep. This state of affairs can never be forgotten, only and finally moved on from.

= = = = = = =

is there no balm in gilead
well yes there is
no physician there
again yes
even Elijah
sprang forth there
everything needed is present
except of course understanding
and so we weep
long and hard we weep
unendingly long we weep
where is our health
where is our care
where is our health care
in the hands of merchant
and politician
rolled and squeezed
until there is no balm left
weep with Jeremiah
denounce with Amos
now get up and on
there is a balm
it is for all
now