Sunday Sermon, 14 September 2025
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Proper 19 (C)
A reading from the prophet Jeremiah
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert towards my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse— a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgement against them.
‘For my people are foolish,
they do not know me;
they are stupid children,
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil,
but do not know how to do good.’
I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
I looked, and lo, there was no one at all,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
Because of this the earth shall mourn,
and the heavens above grow black;
for I have spoken, I have purposed;
I have not relented nor will I turn back.
Jeremiah 4.11–12,22–28, NRSV
Star Wars is one of the most beloved film franchises of all time. It has spawned countless spin-offs and tie-ins since the original movie was released in 1977. Yet in my opinion, nothing comes close to the brilliance of the original trilogy. This is because it follows a classic three-act structure. Act I sets up the story and introduces the characters, Act II leads to tragedy and apparent failure, and Act III brings a reversal of fortunes and happy resolution.
But at the end of Act II, it doesn’t seem like a happy ending is on the horizon. Luke Skywalker has confronted the terrifying Darth Vader, and discovered a horrifying truth. Hans Solo has been captured by the merciless Jabba the Hut. The rebel alliance has been decimated, and the remaining survivors are fleeing the clutches of the empire. Things couldn’t be worse, and yet there is a glimmer of hope. Earlier in the movie, as Luke sets off to confront Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi says to Master Yoda: “That boy is our last hope”. Yoda enigmatically replies: “No, there is another”.
* * *
This morning’s reading from Jeremiah reminds me of an Act II in a play. It is one of the darkest passages in the book. But there is a sliver of hope hidden away in the passage.
Time and again, God has given his people opportunity to repent, to turn away from their evil and turn to him. But they have refused to listen. Now, God comes in judgement against them.
It is as though the terror and confusion of this judgement lives on in the written text of the page. According to the commentators, the Hebrew at this point is disjointed and very difficult to translate. Different manuscripts give conflicted readings. There are points where we don’t know whether it is the Lord, or Jeremiah, who is speaking.
Yet despite the ambiguities, it is clear that God has made up his mind. ‘I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back’ (v28). In this troubling passage, God’s judgment is final and irrevocable.
Or is it? Just as in the second act of the Star Wars trilogy, there is one glimmer of hope: ‘For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end’ (v27). In his judgement, God will not completely destroy. He will not make a full end. Perhaps there is more of the story to come. As difficult as things may seem, out of the darkness there is a ray of light that points the way forward.
* * *
In a Christian reading of this text, the glint of hope comes to fulfilment in the person of Christ.
This is because the problem the people of Judah faced wasn’t ultimately the ‘foe from the north’ that threatened to destroy the city. It is true that they had much to fear from Babylon, but in time, they would learn to live in exile, and come to realise that their faith was able to change and adapt to a new way of life.
Rather, their fundamental problem was the same one we face today. It is the problem of sin. The Bible characterises sin as a power which is in total opposition to God. It seeks to undo all of God’s creative work and revert things back to nothing. We see this in the haunting language of our passage:
‘I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.’ (4:23-24)
This is the language of Genesis, but in reverse. God’s act of creation is being undone. Order is giving way to chaos as the earth reverts to its original state.
As humans we are prone to find ourselves in the grip and power of sin when we seek to put ourselves in the centre of things. Sin causes us to act in self-interest rather than in the interest of others. Sin blinds us from seeing things as they really are, and gives us a distorted view of reality. Sin is deceptive, because ultimately it wants to destroy us, and everything we really care for.
However, if sin seeks to revert creation to darkness, there is one who is able to oppose this destruction. The prologue to the Gospel of John describes Christ in these terms: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.’ (John 1:5) In Christ, it is sin that comes under the judgment of God, so that we might be released from its power and enabled to live for the glory of God and in service of others. Christ sets us free from that which would seek to destroy us. Instead of coming under judgment, we are given the opportunity to work with God in the renewal and recreation of all things.
* * *
A little while ago, I was speaking with someone who was feeling very upset about the state of our world today. They felt helpless and unsure how to respond. After some deliberation, they decided that one positive thing they could achieve was to incorporate litter picking into their morning walk. It was a small, but meaningful, act of resistance.
There is much in our world today that suggests it is still under the power of sin. Wherever human life is taken advantage of, bargained with, disrespected, or treated with contempt. Wherever the environment is spoiled, pillaged, and abused to satisfy greedy desires. Wherever complex social dynamics are reduced to a false choice between ‘us’ and ‘them’. And not just in the world, but in our own hearts, whenever we act out of avarice, pride, or selfish ambition.
Our reading this morning reminds us that God is the judge. He will not let sin have the final say. The world will not return to void and emptiness, because God has sent us his son to overcome the power of sin. Christ liberates us from its clutches, and brings healing and salvation to the world.
In his strength – not our own – we can offer ourselves to his service, and seek to contribute in small but meaningful ways to bringing wholeness, compassion, and wisdom to the pressing issues of our day.
We do this in the name of Christ, the prince of peace. Amen.