“Many bitter laments and outpourings of grief over great calamities, are to be found in the prophecy of Jeremiah. One of the most poignant is expressed in the words: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." In Palestine harvest and summer were quite distinct.
Harvest, from April to June, was when the crops were reaped; summer was the season of vintage and the ingathering of fruits. When the harvest had been bad, or had failed, there were still hopes from the yield of grapes, figs and olives. But if these also failed, famine threatened. So the prophet's words are a cry of despair; the cry of
those who had no crops, no summer fruits, and saw themselves given over to famine.
In the sense of the letter the passage has no eschatological significance, but it does bring certain things to mind most vividly. All too soon we may become aware that the season of our harvest is passed and our summer [feels like it is] ending, without hope for their eternal welfare.
While there is never any lack of sowing of seed to the Lord, [we feel that] much that should have been prepared for has been neglected; many talents have been buried; and there may well be a feeling of despair.
Grief and despair may not seem to be appropriate to [be grateful for]. However, our appreciation of what the Lord wills to bestow upon us (and so our reception of it), will be in direct proportion to our desire for it. This may be intensified by our heartfelt realization that we do not yet have it.”
Editor, New Church Life, 1972 - adapted.
EDM - This is “spiritual grief”…born of Love, which leads to Love.
Love and Peace,
Ethan
