Even in Exile

Even in Exile – In an exchange of preachers, today the Rev. Sam McGlothlin, the senior pastor at Belle Meade United Methodist Church, is preaching for us, while Rev. Dr. Carol Cavin-Dillon is preaching there. We have been in a series of Sundays during which we are exploring the Book of Jeremiah, and to prepare us for today’s passage, Rev. McGlothlin reviewed the Book of Jeremiah we have explored to this point, his being called as a young person by God to remind God’s people of their relationship with God in the past and to urge them to give up the things that have caused them to stray. Now, however, they are in exile in Babylon, and today’s passage is a message to those in exile that they need to seek and enable the welfare of others, including their captors, in that foreign land. Rev. McGlothlin interweaves family stories to illustrate that sometimes one’s frustration and anger can prevent our reaching out to others, and perhaps there were some in Babylonian captivity who could reach out, but others could not. We, too, are called to reach out and minister to others, even if we are frustrated by our own situation. This passage in Jeremiah demonstrates that even in exile they and we can nurture others and live in God’s grace.