In today's first reading, the extremity of Jeremiah's desolation and the weight and incurable pain of his prophetic vocation seem to separate him from ordinary mortals like us. Yet, it is probably true that Jeremiah has simply allowed himself to feel the burden, the violence, the strife of a world at war -- at war with one another and with God. This lamentation could well serve us as an invitation to consider and feel, at least for the short time of our prayer, some of the continuous pain of our world today, especially in areas such as Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc, where conflict, terrorism, and militarism are raging. Let us feel the pain of all the victims of war and violence.

In contrast, we might then consider the the words, promises, and plans of God for us. Remember those wonderful words of Jeremiah spoken elsewhere? "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans of fullness, not of harm -- to give you a future and a hope." In today's reading, Jeremiah says: "When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O Lord, God of Hosts." These marvelous, promising, saving and powerful words of God gave Jeremiah the stomach and the heart to continue to serve God in the midst of injustice, war, treachery, and persecution. Can they not also do the same for us today? If, like Jeremiah, we are willing to forego "celebrating in the circle of merrymakers" to enter into the suffering and tears of our world, at least in our prayers, we too can become "a solid wall of brass" and be "freed from the hand of the wicked and rescued from the grasp of the violent."
We will, in the words of today's psalm, "sing of God's strength and revel at dawn in God's mercy."

Now we are fully able to not just understand but take possession of the Kingdom of heaven presented in today's Gospel as buried treasure and the pearl of great price. I ask myself, What do I need to sell in order to take possession of what is truly precious, what really matters, what is joy forever? Jesuits and Ignatian folks celebrate today the 500th anniversary of the birthday of Blessed Pierre Favre, whose gentle and joyous manner endeared him to the hearts of all who met him because he was able to sell everything and follow Jesus unreservedly. We could end our prayer period with this prayer from his memorial Mass:

Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
You revealed yourself to Blessed Peter, your humble servant,
in prayer and in the service of his neighbor.
Grant that, like him, we may find you and love you in all things.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.