“These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.’ ” - Jeremiah 29:1,4-7
To borrow a phrase from a popular insurance company commercial, the people of God know a thing or two about exile because they have seen a thing or two about exile. Exile - a forced separation from home and life in a foreign land - happens many times in the story of God’s people. Beginning early with Adam and Eve, the people of God are exiled from their home. Individuals such as Jacob and Joseph and Moses find themselves exiled and living long periods in foreign lands. And later, the exile of an entire nation is experienced first by the northen Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and then the southern Kingdom of Judah in 587 BC. The people of God know a thing or two about exile, about what it is like to be separated from and long for their home.
As the continuing people of God, we too are experiencing our days of exile. Eighteen months and counting. I was hopeful in the spring of 2020 that our exile would be short lived. I hoped that by midsummer we would be back at church in worship and fellowship. And I now realize how much that must be like the hopes of previous generations of God’s people who across time have found themselves forced into exile by some external circumstance. As much as we have faithfully faced shortterm challenges from within, we now face a long-term challenge for our time that comes from without.
The prophet Jeremiah writes to the exiles in Babylon with God’s words of wisdom to help them live through their exile. They are words for us today. These are not the best of times, but they are also not the worst of times for most people. Yes, there have been deep and grievous losses for some. Yes, the isolation and loneliness are deep and painful for some. God bless them with grace and peace and hope.
Jeremiah’s words from God bid all of us to live our lives. Live our lives as best we can. Even in these times, celebrate life and make a joyful noise. We have been doing that at church. We have been living. We have been offering fellowship and formation and service to the community within and without. We have been praying and worshiping and even singing when that seemed prudent. We have adapted and we have adapted some more. We have been here for you and remain here for you. We have made a life for ourselves in this time of exile.
I am deeply grateful for all who have been part of this past eighteen plus months. You have been resilient and have shown incredible faithfulness. I now ask something more. Not different, but more. Our church, our communities, and our nation need your prayers more now than ever. Like people in exile, we are not living as we want to live, but pray. Church is not as we want church to be, but pray. Our people are suffering and our communities are suffering, but pray. Our nation is not what it ought to be, but pray. Pray for the welfare of our church and all churches. Pray for all our neighbors. And pray for all in authority who lead our nation. God says that it is in welfare of these that we will find our welfare.
The people of God know a thing or two about exile. They know that one day the exile will be over. God promised that the people of God would one day come home. History tells us that God’s word is true. God’s people came home more than once or twice or three times. I believe God will do it again. God brings light to darkness and life out of death. God is the God of resurrection. Until then and while we wait in faith, making the best of life that we now have, pray for the church and know that we are here for you.
Grace and peace,
Fr. Bill+