By: Rev. Jacquelyn Simmons
Scripture: How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people? How is she become a widow? She that was great among the nations has become a slave. She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies… for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity… mine eyes do fill with tears and my bowels are troubled… because the children and the infants faint in the streets of the city. They say to their mothers, where is the corn and wine? Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee…the Lord has done that which he hath devised… he hath fulfilled his word that he hath command in the days of old. He hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee…
Arise…pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thine hands toward him for the life of thy young children that faint for hunger in the top of every street. Behold, O Lord, and consider to whom thou hast done this; shall the women eat their children they have cuddled? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? The young and the old die on the grounds in the streets; my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; Thou hast slain them in thy anger; Thou hast killed and not pitied. (Selected passages from Lamentations)
My friends, America, Louisiana, so many non-affordable extravagant activities were performed during the so-called Super Bowl weekend while so many non-participants are homeless, starving for lack of food, shelter, health care, etc. Many Mardi Gras enthusiasts have already spent great sums of God’s monies on Mardi Gras paraphernalia and activities while others are waiting in the wings for what is deviously called Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras Day.
Afterwards, some of them will hypocritically observe great penance sessions while fasting and crying out to God to forgive their sins until Easter Sunday. In our afore mentioned text for this message, the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, is lamenting Judah’s and Jerusalem’s fall due to their sins which resulted in their great suffering including starving women eating their children.
He still urged repentance. America! God’s patience is wearing thin. His clock is ticking!
Mardi Gras? Again? No!!!
