#[ jeremiah commentary ]

[psalmsofpsychosis]

so anyway, DC's Doom Patrol (2019) is a level of storytelling that simply feels so impossible, and coming from DC too, and YET

[tortoisesshells]

i know the joy of the 1795 arc is the frantic gallop through the near-total destruction of the collins family, but. begging the already-completed-show (which is to say, praying to an empty altar) to remember vicki. i'm already deeply unimpressed by peter. you're telling me vicki lost her fiance*, ran into his doppelganger in the past who then died a violent and preventable death and she didn't have any strong reaction to that? vicki, the orphan, who scarcely gets to hold onto anything?

[soulgathered]

"if you had looked right next to your door you would have found almonds, fruits and snacks" once more his friendship is not accepted by a certain someone.

[heartsbreaking-migrated]

watching tsitp with very like very little emotional investment is just like

[idealog]

OUTER LIMITS

Jn 5. Liberty, Law, Spiritual Freedom, All Play a Part. Truth is repulsive to the unlawful, who violate free will and put the soul to shame and carnality against Heaven as they wan control and to lay degradation upon the free angelic souls of Heaven who alone have the vision to lead, that they may keep this world the lesser and never allow the Celestial Kingdom to flourish or birth. *want Because they demand to lead toward lusts and not Rising to the stars, to the pinnacle of man's goodness, which is greatness. They demand control and heed no wisdom or humility, but usurp the Lord's COMMAND, His Rule, God's, who guides the crow in flight, that they might concentrate rule round themselves alone, and not respect all members of the team of which ALL are a part, but assist the corrupt greedy while offending the honorable ones who lead harmony, impov'rishing the innocent with every manner of trap and artifice, that not even the angels of God can escape the noose, not even blameless Free Christ himself -- murderers, and Sinners Against the Holy Spirit of Love, and caring, and truth, which reveals their Incompetence and jeopardises (z) their stranglehood of confining vain 'charity' to kill the children of Heaven; How much Hell is necessary to teach and instill fairness, over power broker graspers of Attachment against HEAVEN? Many molest God's Nature, for MAMMON and the heat of desire to Have, to want but deny Need. MATTHEW 25.

OTOH, Power must needs have a cost, to Achieve a wise balance.

In the meantime, we are all certainly in Prison, mere remains, dead, searching for nothing, soulless, empty, un - loving, lost from the Light, afraid & Separate, not in the Union of the Divine and Meek and True, studiously championing for Thee, MY LORD, for thee. Thanks.

[doylldonmagar]

I love breaking down hunger games and analyzing it, and I've thought a lot about the love triangle. Particularly how there isn't really one. How the love triangle was really just marketing, but it was always peeta and katniss. And also, Gale was always borderline toxic and possessive. If I compare that to TSITP...gale becomes Conrad imo, the way gale assumes that there is some attachment due to his care/protection/ whatever from the past, having issues that make the FMC feel needed and responsible to help, (I actual started writing this in June of 2023 and just stumbled upon it in my drafts so I'll try to finish what I was talking about) saying things to make the FMC feel guilty about choosing the other guy (even in small things, not even dating the other guy, but like talking to him), letting/making the FMC feel as though she's the only one who knows him/what's going on for him.

The thing about The Hunger Games for me is that Suzanne Collins was pointing out how powerful people are (and have always) pointing attention towards entertainment, and especially romance, to distract from serious issues. In the books, the love triangle is hardly present (again, IMO) but the movies proved the point by drawing out the relationships and marketing the movies for the love triangle, which led many people to believe it was just a dumb storyline about a teenage girl who can't choose between two guys uwu, when in reality it was a social critique, told from a teenage girl without criticizing or belittling girls in any respect, and taught a generation about activism.

That is the crucial different between the two, to me. Hunger Games was meant as a social commentary in ya fiction form, which got marketed as a love triangle. Summer I Turned Pretty really is about the love triangle.

Belly in the first episode is reading the Hunger Games, in the 4th episode in the flashback we see she's watching the movie, do you think there's a connection with TSITP love triangle?

Wow , great question. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the hunger games… it wouldn’t be fair for me to make an analysis, but I’d like to think that Jenny never does anything unintentional. In season 1, Cam and Belly went to watch Sabrina at the drive in and the plot of the movie represents the triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. There’s connections everywhere. My sister has seen Hunger Games and she said that there’s not even a love triangle that present. I know that Jere loves Belly, but it’s not as present and deep like I think Conrad’s love is. From what I heard, it seems like Katniss and Peeta’s relationship had the main focus and the third person of the triangle was there to spark things up between them. Same goes for TSITP, Belly and Conrad are beyond teenage love. They’re represented as a love that will always find their way back, no matter the obstacles, they’re meant for one another. The gravitational pull between Conrad and Belly is infinite, the light shines most on them. Jeremiah and Belly’s love is platonic, as teenagers and young adults that can get confused with being in love, but when it doesn’t feel right—you’ll just know. I’d love to hear your theories and connections.

[eesirachs]

For a school assignment, I'm assembling an anthology around the theme of queer divinity and desire, but I'm having a hard time finding a fitting essay/article (no access to real academic catalogues :/ ), do you know of any essays around this theme?

below are essays, and then books, on queer theory (in which 'queer' has a different connotation than in regular speech) in the hebrew bible/ancient near east. if there is a particular prophet you want more of, or a particular topic (ištar, or penetration, or appetites), or if you want a pdf of anything, please let me know.

essays: Boer, Roland. “Too Many Dicks at the Writing Desk, or How to Organize a Prophetic Sausage-Fest.” TS 16, no. 1 (2010b): 95–108. Boer, Roland. “Yahweh as Top: A Lost Targum.” In Queer Commentary and the Hebrew Bible, edited by Ken Stone, 75–105. JSOTSup 334. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim, 2001. Boyarin, Daniel. “Are There Any Jews in ��The History of Sexuality’?” Journal of the History of Sexuality 5, no. 3 (1995): 333–55. Clines, David J. A. “He-Prophets: Masculinity as a Problem for the Hebrew Prophets and Their Interpreters.” In Sense and Sensitivity: Essays on Reading the Bible in Memory of Robert Carroll, edited by Robert P. Carroll, Alastair G. Hunter, and Philip R. Davies, 311–27. JSOTSup 348. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002. Graybill, Rhiannon. “Yahweh as Maternal Vampire in Second Isaiah: Reading from Violence to Fluid Possibility with Luce Irigaray.” Journal of feminist studies in religion 33, no. 1 (2017): 9–25. Haddox, Susan E. “Engaging Images in the Prophets: Feminist Scholarship on the Book of the Twelve.” In Feminist Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Retrospect. 1. Biblical Books, edited by Susanne Scholz, 170–91. RRBS 5. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2013. Koch, Timothy R. “Cruising as Methodology: Homoeroticism and the Scriptures.” In Queer Commentary and the Hebrew Bible, edited by Ken Stone, 169–80. JSOTSup 334. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim, 2001. Tigay, Jeffrey. “‘ Heavy of Mouth’ and ‘Heavy of Tongue’: On Moses’ Speech Difficulty.” BASOR, no. 231 (October 1978): 57–67.

books: Ahmed, Sara. Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2006. Bauer-Levesque, Angela. Gender in the Book of Jeremiah: A Feminist-Literary Reading. SiBL 5. New York: P. Lang, 1999. Black, Fiona C., and Jennifer L. Koosed, eds. Reading with Feeling : Affect Theory and the Bible. Atlanta, GA: SBL Press, 2019. Brenner, Athalya. The Intercourse of Knowledge: On Gendering Desire and “Sexuality” in the Hebrew Bible. BIS 26. Leiden: Brill, 1997. Camp, Claudia V. Wise, Strange, and Holy: The Strange Woman and the Making of the Bible. JSOTSup 320. Gender, Culture, Theory 9. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000. Chapman, Cynthia R. The Gendered Language of Warfare in the Israelite-Assyrian Encounter. HSM 62. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2004. Creangă, Ovidiu, ed. Men and Masculinity in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond. BMW 33. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2010. Eilberg-Schwartz, Howard. God’s Phallus: And Other Problems for Men and Monotheism. Boston: Beacon, 1995. Huber, Lynn R., and Rhiannon Graybill, eds. The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality : Critical Readings. London, UK ; T&T Clark, 2021.��Guest, Deryn. When Deborah Met Jael: Lesbian Biblical Hermeneutics. London: SCM, 2005. Graybill, Rhiannon, Meredith Minister, and Beatrice J. W. Lawrence, eds. Rape Culture and Religious Studies : Critical and Pedagogical Engagements. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books, 2019. Graybill, Rhiannon. Are We Not Men? : Unstable Masculinity in the Hebrew Prophets. New York, NY: Oxford University Press USA, 2016. Halperin, David J. Seeking Ezekiel: Text and Psychology. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1993. Jennings, Theodore W. Jacob’s Wound: Homoerotic Narrative in the Literature of Ancient Israel. New York: Continuum, 2005. Macwilliam, Stuart. Queer Theory and the Prophetic Marriage Metaphor in the Hebrew Bible. BibleWorld. Sheffield and Oakville, CT: Equinox, 2011. Maier, Christl. Daughter Zion, Mother Zion: Gender, Space, and the Sacred in Ancient Israel. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2008. Mills, Mary E. Alterity, Pain, and Suffering in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. LHB/OTS 479. New York: T. & T. Clark, 2007. Stökl, Jonathan, and Corrine L. Carvalho. Prophets Male and Female: Gender and Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Ancient Near East. AIL 15. Atlanta, GA: SBL, 2013. Stone, Ken. Practicing Safer Texts: Food, Sex and Bible in Queer Perspective. Queering Theology Series. London: T & T Clark International, 2004. Weems, Renita J. Battered Love: Marriage, Sex, and Violence in the Hebrew Prophets. OBT. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1995.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

It Is Time to Seek the Lord

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. — Hosea 10:12 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Proverbs 11:18; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 48:18; Jeremiah 4:3; 2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18

Read full chapter

Hosea 10:12 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary

[msvelawciraptor]

I'm going to step in on Zebulon's behalf and his little Arkansas V Tennessee spot with Jeremiah with two artists from Arkansas who are after Zeb's time, but need consideration in the discussion.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe is from Arkansas and is the godmother of rock and roll. One cannot discuss modern American music without accounting for her influence.

The great state of Arkansas also gave us Johnny Cash. No further commentary should be necessary.

[porcelainvino]

(to answer @nicoise based on this post, sorry i ended up typing a LOT OOPS)

its very stupid and honestly kinda surface level bUt it’s basically that jeremiah is merely a minimum wage worker trying to do his job,, his sexuality doesn’t define him, whatever previous interactions he had with blaine don’t define him yet we (obviously) don’t see this in the show because he’s merely a background character….

BUT what if this actually commentary on middle class americans. that jeremiah is just a man, a stranger, a worker in a store, trying to do his job. yet he’s interrupted by his monotonous job through the gap attack. he’s FIRED for something he DIDN’T DO.

where will he go from here? is there a future for this man? why does his place of work define him??

he leaves the scene after talking with blaine. he’s never mentioned again besides 6x07 in which kurt briefly says “jeremiah… yeah… whatever happened to him?” for he is nothing beyond the main characters’ singular perception of him, a surface level view of a real person. they only mention him in the context of gap. we call him “gap guy”. to the characters and the viewer, this is the end of his story. unlike real life, we assume this is the finale, that this is his big moment in life, rather than the fact that he probably has more ahead of him. yet he disappears into the background. destroyed into nothingness. just like the tragic reality to the middle class in america’s capitalist society: who are we if we don’t work?

….. or something IDK

[wonder-worker]

Margaret of Anjou’s visit to Coventry [in 1456], which was part of her dower and that of her son, Edward of Lancaster, was much more elaborate. It essentially reasserted Lancastrian power. The presence of Henry and the infant Edward was recognised in the pageantry. The ceremonial route between the Bablake gate and the commercial centre was short, skirting the area controlled by the cathedral priory, but it made up for its brevity with no fewer than fourteen pageants. Since Coventry had an established cycle of mystery plays, there were presumably enough local resources and experience to mount an impressive display; but one John Wetherby was summoned from Leicester to compose verses and stage the scenes. As at Margaret’s coronation the iconography was elaborate, though it built upon earlier developments.

Starting at Bablake gate, next to the Trinity Guild church of St. Michael, Bablake, the party was welcomed with a Tree of Jesse, set up on the gate itself, with the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah explaining the symbolism. Outside St. Michael’s church the party was greeted by Edward the Confessor and St. John the Evangelist; and proceeding to Smithford Street, they found on the conduit the four Cardinal Virtues—Righteousness (Justice?), Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude. In Cross Cheaping wine flowed freely, as in London, and angels stood on the cross, censing Margaret as she passed. Beyond the cross was pitched a series of pageants, each displaying one of the Nine Worthies, who offered to serve Margaret. Finally, the queen was shown a pageant of her patron saint, Margaret, slaying the dragon [which 'turned out to be strictly an intercessor on the queen's behalf', as Helen Maurer points out].

The meanings here are complex and have been variously interpreted. An initial reading of the programme found a message of messianic kingship: the Jesse tree equating royal genealogy with that of Christ had been used at the welcome for Henry VI on his return from Paris in 1432. A more recent, feminist view is that the symbolism is essentially Marian, and to be associated with Margaret both as queen and mother of the heir rather than Henry himself. The theme is shared sovereignty, with Margaret equal to her husband and son. Ideal kingship was symbolised by the presence of Edward the Confessor, but Margaret was the person to whom the speeches were specifically addressed and she, not Henry, was seen as the saviour of the house of Lancaster. This reading tips the balance too far the other way: the tableau of Edward the Confessor and St. John was a direct reference to the legend of the Ring and the Pilgrim, one of Henry III’s favourite stories, which was illustrated in Westminster Abbey, several of his houses, and in manuscript. It symbolised royal largesse, and its message at Coventry would certainly have encompassed the reigning king. Again, the presence of allegorical figures, first used for Henry, seems to acknowledge his presence. Yet, while the message of the Coventry pageants was directed at contemporary events it emphasised Margaret’s motherhood and duties as queen; and it was expressed as a traditional spiritual journey from the Old Testament, via the incarnation represented by the cross, to the final triumph over evil, with the help of the Virgin, allegory, and the Worthies. The only true thematic innovation was the commentary by the prophets.

[...] The messages of the pageants firmly reminded the royal women of their place as mothers and mediators, honoured but subordinate. Yet, if passive, these young women were not without significance. It is clear from the pageantry of 1392 and 1426 in London and 1456 in Coventry that when a crisis needed to be resolved, the queen (or regent’s wife) was accorded extra recognition. Her duty as mediator—or the good aspect of a misdirected man—suddenly became more than a pious wish. At Coventry, Margaret of Anjou was even presented as the rock upon which the monarchy rested. [However,] a crisis had to be sensed in order to provoke such emphasis [...]."

-Nicola Coldstream, "Roles of Women in Late Medieval Civic Pageantry", Reassessing the Roles of Women as 'Makers' of Medieval Art and Culture

[whatisthismandoinghere]

So I’ve watched a good chunk of seasons 3 and 4 of Laramie as well as a few from season 1 and I am now gonna make it all yall’s problem and bless you with my commentary and clips from each episode, enjoy I guess 😂

Without further ado, S1.EP1 Stage Stop

Not the outlaw being upset they spelled his name wrong in the newspaper 😂

Jess’s introduction to Laramie was absolutely terrible, poor guy just got shot at. Absolutely love how he just ignored the lawman when he was told to stop though, a very Jess thing to do 🤣

Jess and Slim’s first meeting is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Let’s take a look at it, shall we?

I mean the first shot alone where they show the sign “Sherman Ranch, No Trespassing” and then cut to Jess just lounging around like he owns the place 😂 

And the dialogue:

Slim: What’re you doing here?

Jess: Gettin’ a crick in my back!

Plus this gem:

Jess: I had 3 or 4 swallows out of your private stream. My horse helped himself too, so you just figure out what I owe you, and I’ll be on my way. Oh, and uh, I looked at a bird flying over. Will there be a charge for that?

Look Jess I love you so much but who gave you the right to be so freaking sassy 😂 (we adore him for it though) but Slim had valid concerns, I see both sides of the situation here. I mean Jess, you should’ve read the sign, and I can see why Slim is wary of strangers, but I too would be ticked off if someone just showed up and was holding me at gunpoint

Not Jess just sending Slim flying 😂 boy don’t mess around

Overall I think this first meeting went really well you guys

Andy is so flipping adorable and I would die for him, the way he just gets along so well with Jess right off the bat 😭 10x funnier that he’s Slim’s brother though 🤣

Look at the racoon! And the way Andy washed his food for him 🥺 it's so cute how this little gesture shows how much he knows about animals and how much he cares for them

When Jess dozed off and Andy came in and startled him and he just whipped around with his gun and when he realized it was Andy and he was so apologetic 😭 but just gets me thinking about Jess being a loner and a drifter and being so used to looking out for himself yet still being so compassionate to this kid he just met. He’s so good with kids and I think it’s just darling seeing him interact with Andy and later on Mike.

Ugh I’m having so many Thoughts on Jess’s childhood, of course they are of the angsty variety, all prompted by these lines of dialogue (putting them in different colors so it's easier to differentiate between them):

Andy: Jess, how old were you when you first went out on your own?

Jess: Can’t hardly remember when I wasn’t on my own, like Jeremiah here and Sam. Only I didn’t find a soft touch like you. Maybe I didn’t want one. 

Andy: Do you like it better alone?

Jess: It just worked out that way.

Andy: Don’t you get lonely sometimes?

Jess: You get used to it.

As if these lines weren't heart breaking enough, Jess's tone of voice and facial expressions just really added to it. Yes there will be fics in the future no I do not need more wips

Jess had a fractured skull you say?? *adds to list of details to keep in mind for later*

Look at them playing cards together <3 yes I totally get that Andy's complete and total willingness to trust anyone who comes along is a bit concerning but it's also so sweet and I just love how he interacts with Jess

The way Andy was just working up the courage to ask Jess to take him with him and Jess being so gentle and telling him maybe when he’s older their relationship is everything you guys 😭

I know at times Slim seems a little harsh on Andy but he really just wants the best for him and it’s sweet. 

Love how Jonesy just deescalates the situation so smoothly and just calmly drags Slim away 😂

I’ve noticed that Jess gets called saddle tramp an awful lot so I’m starting a running count, we are currently at 1

Jonesy saying Slim is just a kid is just… it’s kinda funny but at the same time - how do I want to explain this? - like Slim is out here saying Andy needs to get things figured out, needs to become a better judge of character, and then Jonesy is just like “you’re figuring things out too pally. you’re responsible for your kid brother now and you still got some things to learn” You can see that Jonesy knows Slim really well and I love their dynamic

Jess was so ready to end Slim right then and there 😂 what can I say, I like my men violent 🤣 seriously tho the fact that Jess and Slim were just constantly beating each other up throughout this entire episode before they decided to try running a ranch together is the funniest thing

Everything about Bud Carlin irritates me, the way he speaks, the way he moves, his whole demeanor, I just hate it 😂

When Carlin’s asking about how long it takes the stage to get there once it’s in sight and Jonesy’s just out here throwing in a bunch of random circumstances to avoid answering 🤣 and then Carlin gets so irritated that he decides to ask Jess instead lol but Andy just immediately telling him what he wants to know so Jess doesn’t get hurt 😭 bless his little heart AND JONESY REACHING HIS ARM OUT TO GRAB THE GUY WHEN HE WENT TO PUNCH JESS Jonesy's a real one

When Jess and Andy are out in the barn shoeing the horse and Andy tries to grab a rifle and Jess stops him cuz he didn’t want him to get hurt 😭

Oh when Carlin makes Jess punch Slim in the face… like we know they were about to go at it when he walked in but now Jess is like no way, the friendship is progressing you guys, and poor Slim was just like "do it", somebody get this poor man some ice and an ibuprofen

But as soon as Carlin makes Jess hit Slim that third time he turned on Carlin so fast

Andy’s voice was almost breaking when he saw Slim laying on the ground and he was trying to wake him up and it almost broke me 😭

The way they all go to check on Slim as soon as the guy leaves the room 🥺

Andy was just begging Jess to go with Slim so that he’d have some help and Jess wouldn’t go and then Andy has tears in his eyes and says “No wonder you travel alone, who’d wanna team up with a saddle tramp like you?” nooooooo 😭 I really act like I’ve never seen this episode before also Jess saddle tramp count is now at 2

They really just threw that guy out of the stagecoach, that wasn’t very nice

JESS CAME BACK yes I already knew this would happen, hush your timing is impeccable pally

Look at these idiots (affectionate) 😂

Alright I'm gonna write out this scene for you because Reasons (once again in color so it's easier to differentiate):

Pete: I’m hurt bad, Jess. Don’t shoot.

Jess: I was hurt bad too. And it wasn’t just the money Pete.

Pete: I didn’t take it Jess. I swear I didn’t

*Pete proceeds to grab for his gun and Jess shoots him again, sending him flying off the cliff*

So satisfying yall also that dialogue though, I sense another fic in the future

Not the fanning of the guns, ugh I hate when they do that and Jess does it all the time

I love how Jess just puts his gun away and lets Slim deal with Carlin on his own, the way he just saunters over while they’re fist fighting and the way they replay the bit Carlin pulled on them when he made Jess hit Slim, sheer perfection 🤣

Aw Andy was so excited to see Jess and Slim back safely 🥺

Friendship has been established pallies, that is what we call ✨character development✨

Also if you haven’t noticed I’m a tad bit obsessed with Jess ok maybe more than a tad so here’s some bonus gifs of him being sassy 😂❤️

[firstumcschenectady]

"Be on Guard" based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36

As a general rule, I really hate Advent texts. I hate them because they're apocalyptic and messy and scary and generally reflect a future I hope we don't have.

When I reflected on this with Worship Committee last month, they looked at me knowingly and pointed out that perhaps that's exactly why we need the Lectionary Advent texts right now. Because 1. we need some connection to our traditions and 2. it feels really real right now.

Which, since you just heard the utter wonder of the Luke 21 text, you can tell I was convinced by those ideas. However, I'm particularly lucky that the Sunday Night Bible Study also just finished reading the book of Daniel and I'm way more aware of the genre of apocalyptic literature in the Bible than I normally am.

I do not, for the record, recommend reading the book of Daniel outside of the context of a Bible Study or without some truly excellent commentaries. However, I had the benefit of reading it with excellent commentaries and insightful fellow readers.

The thing about Daniel, and the book of Revelation, and I think this passage in Luke is: they're written as resistance literature. They can't be direct and make the point, “The person who has all the power an is oppressing us with it is not doing God's will,” because if they say that then anyone who has access to the document will be killed. #OpressiveRegimes So, they put things in different times. Daniel pretends to be from the past, Revelation pretends to be in the future. Then they speak about the abuses of power they see now, and do it in a way that it clear that God is still God and the horrors of this time will come to an end.

They are powerful tools of encouragement, of hope, and of resistance.

But, in order to obscure their points so people don't die, they're also a little bit hard to decipher.

I'm not really sure what Luke is trying to get to in today's passage. (The Jesus seminar is pretty clear this is all Luke's writing, not reflective directly of Jesus.) What we do know is that the early Christian communities experienced fairly extreme circumstances, and often needed encouragement and resistance literature. It seems that it could be common enough to feel like things were so bad that “people would faint from fear”. But Luke assures the people that things getting bad are just a sign they're going to get better soon. Because the people needed to be encouraged.

So, beloveds, as people who also might need some encouragement, the part of the passage that encouraged me this week was one little line, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life.” Oh, I needed that reminder. Be on guard that your heart is not weighed down.

Sweet Jesus, thank you. (Or, rather, thanks Luke.)

Now, Jeremiah goes at this from a different perspective. Which is interesting because Jeremiah is known for being a significant downer as a prophet. But chapter 33 is one of Jeremiah's “good cop” chapters and Jeremiah encourages the people that the end has not come and good times are going to come again.

Now, I have to admit something to you. I rebel against the word “righteousness.” I don't think my objections are particularly fair. It is a good word. It means living well, living “rightly,” living in right relationship with God and neighbors. And yet, somehow, when I come across it, I connect it with purity culture and judgmental-ism and people judging whether or not one is righteous and it just ruins the whole thing for me. (I believe others struggle with Justice for similar reasons, and oddly enough I like that one.)

So, I thesaurus-ed “righteous” and the simplest substitute for it is “goodness” which I can handle. With that, we get a passage from Jeremiah that says:

The days are coming, God says, when I'm going to fulfill my promises.

In those days David's line will continue,

and the leader in the line of David will bring goodness and fairness to everyone.

The people will be safe and well.

Things will be so good that other nations will call my people by the name,

“God is our goodness.”

I like it. Sounds to me like yet another description of that beloved community or kindom of God we're co-creating with God. God reminds us, even in dark times, not to give up hope.

And Luke reminds us to be on guard so our hearts aren't weighed down.

Which leads me to invite us to think about both what weighs down our hearts, and what lifts those weights.

I can share that my weights are lifted by:

remembering all the organizations and people working for goodness

jokes and memes that hit at the crux of things with humor

feeling heard

being able to truly hear another person's heart

singing together

fiction and fictional portrayals that give me a break from the problems of this time

telling God exactly what I'm feeling and why

giving God time to respond (I may use this less than I wish)

helping others

baking

and as I was reminded in today's Advent Devotional – a snack and a nap!

It's my list, I don't know if yours has baking on it or not ;) But, if you are willing, would you work on making your list? What lifts the weights when your heart is heavy?

And, if you are willing, could you then put that list somewhere you can see it, as a reminder for when your heart needs you to guard it and lighten it's load?

Someone wise reminded me this week that it is hard to be disconcerted by reality at the same time that others are, because instead of steadying each other, people are pulling each other further off kilter. I say we work on becoming a fire break in the anxiety storm, a source of calm in the midst of it all. We guard our hearts and each other's, so we can be steady when others are off kilter. Are you with me?

I hope so. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to lift some weights from our hearts, so we have capacity to help others when their weights get too heavy. Amen

December 1, 2025

Rev. Sara E. Baron  First United Methodist Church of Schenectady  603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305  Pronouns: she/her/hers  http://fumcschenectady.org/  https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

[itspileofgoodthings]

I was tagged by @lovesodeepandwideandwell (thank youuuuu so much for tagging me—-I love tag games like this!!!)

Last Song I Listened To: Jump then Fall, Taylor Swift

My Fearless (Taylor’s version) bonus track cd has been on shuffle in my car. Also this is why I never want to buy a new car cause they won’t have a cd player. Also this reminds me, I still need to buy Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on cd.

Currently Watching: The Summer I Turned Pretty with @thelonelybrilliance (only on episode 3 but having a great time so far, the commentary has been dynamite, the ocean and Jeremiah are both soooo pretty), Larkrise to Candleford with my mom (just finished season 1! I love this show), reruns of the Office with Nina (I first watched it with her my freshman year of college so it’s so nostalgic for that), and also at this exact moment in time I am a little over halfway through a very critical rewatch of the 2005/Joe Wright version of Pride and Prejudice. I want to get back to watching Lockwood and co. but Nina betrayed me by finishing it without me and I’m a little too scared to watch it alone. One of these days I will binge it though.

Currently Reading: Life with Jeeves (P.G. Wodehouse) and it is reminding me, as it always does, how much I love Wodehouse. It’s the easiest reading in the world for me and just fills me back up. Next on my list are a reread of Northanger Abbey and The Shadow of the Bear. And then I start SCHOOL SO SOON. And then it will be Beowulf and poetry and all the classics and ahhhhh. I’m so excited!!

Current Obsession: Well, it’s about to be #jelly from the summer I turned pretty but I’m still on brink of the actual love story because we’re not super far in yet, I’m still on the shore if you will lol, so I will say, again, at this exact moment, that it’s my rewatch of the 2005 P&P. Idk, there’s just something about it this time where I feel like I’m able to articulate things in a way that rings true for me and to just …. be more nuanced and honest and unafraid and, as I said the other day, unemotional in a good way. And I’m just, I’m obsessed with that feeling and that feeling that comes from having, like, a secret little project that’s just mine that involves analysis and close reading and just figuring stuff out I haven’t been able to for years but is also something that I do alone and at night—!!!! (I know that’s a weird answer but it’s true.)

I tag: @thelonelybrilliance @illbeoutofthewoods @byjoveimbeinghumble @freenarnian @thisisctrying @merinathropp and anyone else who wants to do it!

[apenitentialprayer]

I've been searching for an answer for this on my own but I just remembered that you might be the person to ask.

Do you know of any explanations the Church Fathers made on passages such as Jeremiah 44:17 "the queen of heaven"? It's a Marian title now but here it seems to be a reference to an idol? I really would like a Church Fathers perspective on this because otherwise I'm just left to explain to myself that the term was reclaimed.

Do you know of anything that could help me?

You're right, this is contextual; the Catena Bible commentary for Jeremiah 44:17-19 claim that the Queen of Heaven being worshiped here is claimed by Theodoret of Cyrrhus to be Venus, and that the Israelites are participating in the rites of their neighbors.

I do think that we're stuck with the explanation that the title "Queen of Heaven" is simply one that has an appropriate context (Mary as Mother of God, with a pedigree going at least as far back as Andrew of Crete in the early 700s), and an inappropriate context (attributed to a goddess).

Now, if that's unnerving, I would keep in mind that there are other instances in the Christian tradition in which a title is attributed to both good and bad personalities. To list two examples:

Lucifer is nowadays often synonymous with the devil, but if you were to read the Easter Exsultet in Latin, Jesus is also referred to as Lucifer; it means "light-bringer," and refers to the morning star (i.e. the planet Venus). In English, Jesus is "the Morning Star which never sets," while in Latin He is "lúcifer, qui nescit occásum."

John the Baptist is sometimes called John the Forerunner, because he went before the Lord to prepare His way. Jesus is likewise referred to as our Forerunner in the Book of Hebrews, because He has entered heaven before us "on our behalf" (6:20). Yet this title also refers to a demon identified by the Desert Fathers, an evil spirit that gets its name from its attempts at the start of our day to tempt us into sin.

I think we might be stuck with the fact that titles can be applied to various figures, and the positive or negative aspects of those titles largely have to do with the views of the figure that they are being applied to.

[saras-devotionals]

Quiet Time 3/6

What am I feeling today?

Another dream, kinda frustrated with it all, like I wish I was over it but at the same not? Also feeling super lazy and tired, ended up sleeping a lot last night and I wish I didn’t because today is my last day to get everything done.

Caring for the Spiritually Wounded (Bible Talk Leader’s Meeting)

Point of lesson: nursing people back to health (spiritual edition🕺)

Jeremiah 8:22 NIV

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”

I don’t entirely understand the context of this passage so I searched for commentary, finding:

certainly, there is balm in Gilead, and yes, there is a true physician there; but all of the blame for Israel’s sorrows must rest upon themselves for not applying the wonderful remedy which God has provided.

It is of great interest that the “balm in Gilead” has come to stand as a metaphor of the salvation in Jesus Christ

Furthermore, I got this from my discipler: People need to recover and see that 'pressure is a privilege' - God allows the stressful situation because He knows you can handle it.

Numbers 11:10-12 NIV

“Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors?”

I feel that I can especially relate to this in the sense that I’m in nursing and currently working on an L&D + postpartum unit. I feel that there can be the misconception that babies are very fragile, especially newborns, but that’s not the case. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t be careful with them, but we also know that they can handle a lot more than we initially expect. I think this relates to people, yes we care for them and carry them and keep them safe, but they are also stronger than we give them credit for.

From discipler: As a 'nurse carries an infant'...if we don't care about people and their issues, we gotta look at ourselves and examine 'why don't we care?' Pray to care more and to ask questions, not just focus on ourselves. It is for God's glory that we bring up godly people, shaping them and helping them.

Be Joyful in Spite of Being Tired

Luke 9:1-2 NIV

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Although Jesus hasn’t given us these powers, we have received the Holy Spirit and that’s a powerful thing. We can relate this in terms to demons (issues we may deal with that are hard to shake) and disease (perhaps a hard heart) and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can work to care for those who are currently dealing with this.

From discipler: He gave me the Holy Spirit so that I can 'drive out the demons' using His power (thru prayer and His word). Identify any 'sickness' within your bible talk. Jesus was a healer and we can be, too.

Romans 15:1-2 NIV

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

There are times when my self perspective fluctuate and I can believe that I’m both strong and weak (and I think both are accurate). I can be strong for those who need me to be, I can be the person others can rely on, I can be strong for my patients, family, friends, etc. But I can also be weak, needing those stronger than me to help, seeking advice, going to God because I know I am unable to do it all on my own.

I do wonder about the second half, saying each of us should please our neighbors (thought about people pleasing) but it furthers by saying for their good, to build them up. Where’s the line between people pleasing and pleasing people for their good?

From discipler: If you are strong, you will bear with the weak. Don't look down on them, but offer help.. maybe sharing faith together or praying together.

1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 NIV

“We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Don’t do things for credit or praise from other people, what is the point of puffing yourself up when it’s not really your doing but God working through you? Mimic the heart of a mother or a nurse. Caring for those because you want to, because your desire is to love. They are selfless, they know they will not get accolades for what they do because it is already expected of them. As disciples, we are already expected to love everyone: John 13:34-35 -> ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

From discipler: Be like a mother with her children- being delighted to share your life with them, not like it's a chore. And don't look for praise. It's a thankless job. Similar to being a nurse sometimes we are the ones cleaning up the mess..while the doctor gets all the credit and that's OK. God sees it and He is pleased when we do things for others out of gratitude, not looking for glory.