Do you ever feel like you are fighting your children, and your children are fighting you, all day long?
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From the Office of Readings for today, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist:
Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-19
The word of the Lord came to me thus:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you,a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
"Ah, Lord God!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young."
Too young, too old, too tired, too busy, too faltering, too selfish, too confused, too inexperienced, too unprepared, too overwhelmed.
But the Lord answered me,
Say not, "I am too young."
Or whatever.
To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
"To whomever I send you, you shall go."
Because they come after us, we often think of the children as being sent to us.
But John turns this time-sequence on its head. John testified: He who is to come after me existed before me.
And though they didn't exist before us, this paradox recalls that, rather than them being sent to us, it's more true that we are sent — to each child in turn, and at the same time.
"To whomever I send you you shall go."
Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms,
(Or perhaps only over one family of children),
To root up and tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
But do you gird your loins;
Get out of your pajamas. Put on your shoes and tie back your hair. Wash your face. Chin up.
stand up and tell them all that I command you.
Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them;
And boy, don't I feel that way sometimes.
For it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land; Against Judah's kings and princes, against its priests and its people.
The Lord fortified Jeremiah against Judah. He expected conflict. (And got it.) Conflict, however, was not the purpose of their relationship. The purpose was guidance, correction, reconciliation, love.
In Jeremiah on St. John's birthday we are to see the purpose of "preparing a way for Christ" as well. A road into the heart.
They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
If you had told me a few years ago, when my children were fewer and smaller, that I would read this and immediately identify with Jeremiah (knowing to whom I am sent), I probably would be horrified at the language of antagonism and conflict and power struggle. Isn't our ideal a little bit more… collaborative? Shouldn't we turn to language that sounds a bit more… encouraging? Warm nurturing welcoming nourishing protecting cuddling sheltering blah blah blah?
<ringing sound of sword being unsheathed>
The Lord made my tongue a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand.
Both, perhaps?
I am the voice. The voice of one crying. The voice of one crying out.
I have placed my words in your mouth.
Do you gird your loins.
It is I who have made you a pillar.
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