Read Reflect I am writing this just after the installation of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America. Both in his campaign and in his inauguration speech Donald Trump held out a message of hope for his supporters, telling people just what they wanted to hear. It remains to be seen how […]

Read Reflect Have you ever written an essay on your computer and accidentally deleted it? I can bet that anyone this has happened to will never let it happen again! (Incidentally, if you’ve ever done this, and re-written it, the second version was probably better than the first. Believe me, I know.) Now imagine how […]

Read Reflect This chapter contains a mixture of material from chapters 32 and 37 that were omitted in theStory. Chapter 32 relates how Jeremiah had been encouraged to buy land at Anathoth, where he had been born, as a signal from God that the Jews, after exile, would return to their own land. From chapter […]

Read Reflect Finally, everything happens just as Jeremiah had said it would. The walls were broken, the Babylonian troops entered the city and burned the houses, including the palace. The people were captured and led away. Only those who owned no land were left to till the fields and vineyards. The king, Zedekiah, tried to […]

Read Reflect When, finally, the Babylonians captured Jerusalem and took the Jews into exile, Jeremiah was with them, chained like the rest. It was when they stopped at Ramah (present day Ramallah) that Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, realized who he was and removed the chains. He was favourably disposed to Jeremiah. It is […]

Read Reflect This is a psalm of lamentation, but it is also one of anticipation and celebration. It’s always so interesting how often all three sentiments can coexist, in both poetry and our daily lives. The psalmist is speaking from a place of dissatisfaction and sorrow. He is homesick and longs to be rescued. Yet, […]

Read Reflect All too often we want people to know our accomplishments in order to gain acceptance into certain circles, satisfying our ego and solidifying our social status. It’s a pride-filled exercise that, while possibly putting us in places we wish to be, we should be wary of. Jesus warns that everyone who exalts himself […]