XII Winter Plant Catalogue does not look like Summer Reality. Holy cards of saint with halos and smiles. Mother Angelica threatened her biographer of such notions.
X Realize some plants inexplicably fail, perhaps from undiagnosed internal defects. Is it worth the effort and $$
Was I duped?
Recall Jeremiah saying the words of the Lord were a joy and a delight but then he fears the Lord has been a liar cf Jer 15:16-18
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing (delight RSV) of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? KJV
Jeremiah 20:7 O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.
Setting (Jer 20, ESV)
1 Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
2 Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the LORD.
8 For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.
18 Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
The prosperity gospel is always popular but not scriptural. Anyone who preaches only good tidings should be shunned.
No one likes to bearer the bad news. Jeremiah did not hear the message. Though suffering was evil.
Great paradox suffering can’t be evil Our Lord & Lady capable of it.
Suffer for beauty. Permits suffering to be good. Seems incomprehensible.
Know the love of someone lost was worth the suffering.
Satan wants suffering to be misery and destruction and death. Nothing good born from it.
Joy comes before suffering and afterwards.
Pruning dying weight, yields a second and more abundant harvest in the fall.
If not pruned, plant become sterile not able to carry the burden.
DNS bear the suffering continue to burdens, tomorrow be more abundant.
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