Jeremiah weeps for the plight of his people. He wonders if they are inflicted with an incurable wound. In our modern war-torn world, we may well sympathize with Jeremiah's questioning.

In his parables Jesus teaches us the need for patience: it takes time for seeds to reach full growth; it takes time for yeast to make the dough rise and become bread. When our patience is tried beyond what we may feel is a reasonable limit, we may, like Jeremiah, be driven to tears. But there, too, we have a word of encouragement from Jesus: "Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be consoled" (Mt 5:5).The promise of God's consolation in times of personal suffering, even from apparently incurable wounds is a great grace. Moreover, some scholars suggest that in the context of the world in which he lived, Jesus more likely meant mourning not in any personal affliction but in the way in which Jeremiah mourned for Israel. Our present world provides us with much to mourn about. If mourning for the suffering of the world can led to consolation, then it is a powerful form of prayer for salvation.