Digesting the word

 Jeremiah 15:16

Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart;

for I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

Still, today, O God

you prevail upon us

to eat your words.

And your call 

is every bit as uncompromising

unpalatable

bad for digestion

as it has been

in every generation.

With your law of love

tattooed boldly on our hearts

you call us to

vomit love

and belch compassion

to exude justice from every pore

And, when we are empty, 

in need of sustenance,

to return to you

sustainer of our being

to humbly seek

replenishment

so that your word

becomes life

as we live in the light 

of the God 

whose name is love

whose food

is the bread of life

broken and shared

for all the world

You offer us the nourishment

of bread freshly baked 

attracting us with the tantalising aroma

that whets our appetite

and draws us back

time and again.

You bid us take and eat

not crumbs from the table

but the fresh portion

that you offer daily

nourishing our souls

with bread

and with your love

in word and in action

that changes us

from the inside out

and then

called by your name

sustained by your goodness

you bid us share

that which you have freely given.