Jer.31:7-14-

1) For spiritual imagery, few things match the watered garden image of v. 12.

2) Here is one of the examples of mourning turning into joy (v.13)

3) Who has hands that seem too strong for us now? (v.11) Don't be afraid to make it a force, such as illness.

4) The feast images of v. 12 fit all of the parties during the season. Do our parties have this radiance? For that matter, does Communion? Notice that God is doing the feeding in v. 14.

5) Notice how v.13 gets everyone involved in the celebration.

6) The weeping of v. 9 could be the same cries of Mary and the baby as they run for their lives to Egypt in Mt. 2's account after the Magi.

 

 

The epiphany (shine around/about) readings, Is. 60:1-6, Ps. 72, are perhaps the classic examples of pulling together disparate materials to form a story, in this case the wise men. Where do the camels come from? See 60:4.How did they become kings instead of magi? See 60:3.How did they acquire ethnic characteristics? See 60:6 (Most Protestants don;t hold to the names given them).The reading mention at least some of the gifts, so early reading brought them into the Mt. 2 story.

I would note that the only place that I am aware of the three gifts in the same place is the collection of materials in Ex. 30 around the tabernacle instructions.

 

Ps. 72 emphasizes justice again, v.2,12-14

v.10 ethnic kings again with gifts,  gold in v. 15

 

One could use the light image ina variety of ways. The new movie avatar is carful in its use of light on the computer screen.

Adam Smith used this passage for his economics text.