For some reason the Book of Lamentations sounds so relevant for our times.
With weeping my eyes are spent; I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because of the destruction of my people, because infants and babes faint in the streets of the city. To their mothers they cry, “Where is the bread and wine?” As they faint like wounded men in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms.
(Lamentations 2: 11-12)
Surely we are languishing without the Holy Eucharist. But there is hope because as the Word says,
The Lord’s love abides unceasingly, his compassion is never exhausted; every morning it is renewed, so great is his faithfulness.” My portion is the Lord,” says my soul, ” therefore, I shall hope in him. The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to those who search for him. It is rewarding to wait in silence for the Lord’s saving help.
(Lamentations 2:22-26)
The Lord God was the portion of the tribe of Levi. As Catholics, being the Levites of the New and Eternal Covenant, i.e. as the priests of the whole elect humanity (the new Israel), Lord God Himself is our portion. So let us hope in Him. Let us be the ones who lament for our own sins and the sins of the world. Our High Priest, has offered Himself, the Holy Victim, on the Holy Altar of His Cross. Being resurrected on the Third day, He has already entered the Holy of Holies by ascending to Heaven. And from the right hand of His Father, He intercedes for us, while simultaneously being with us still on Earth, in the Holy Eucharist. He has never forsaken us as orphans.
So let us ponder:
For, it is not forever that the Lord rejects man. Though he punishes, he will have compassion out of the abundance of his love. For he does not willingly bring suffering or grief to the human race.
( Lamentations 2: 31-33)
Further, it continues,
Why should then mortals complain when punished for their sins? Let us search and examine our ways and return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven, and say: We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not forgiven us.
( Lamentations 2: 40-42)
Have we really repented ? Or are we just thinking and talking about it? Have we let all distractions removed from our minds and knelt in the presence of the Lord behind the shut door and asked for His Mercy, yet?
No respite, no relief, my tears will flow and never cease, till the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.
( Lamentations 2: 49-50)
Then the Lord hears our cries.
Out of the depths of the pit I called on your name, O Lord. You heard my plea, ” Do not close your ear to my cry for relief.” When I called, you came to my aid, and you said, ” Have no fear!” O Lord, you took my cause, and you rescued my life.
( Lamentations 2: 55-58)
Let us repent for our personal sin first and then give reparation for the sins of the whole world. Take up your weapons: Prayer, Penance, Reparation.
Image source: Photo by Nancy Hughes on Unsplash
Wisdom and prayers of saints 