"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?" (Jer. 8:22)
This verse is one of the most famous laments in the Old Testament. Jeremiah looked at Judah and saw spiritual and moral decay — injustice, corruption, idolatry, violence. God had left them because of their idolatrous ways, and they wouldn’t change their ways or admit they were spiritually sick. How about us?
We live in a time when the world’s heartbeat often feels irregular—like a sacred drum whose rhythm falters, leaving the dancers confused. This disrupted dance is seen in our communities: people drift apart, chase material success over compassion, and let busyness crowd out connection with God and with each other. Like Judah, many of us—within our families and faith groups—have become out of tune with God’s desire for mercy and justice.
Not long ago, the facilitator of an online Spiritual Direction I attended asked the group to name what we were feeling. Words like ‘overwhelmed,’ ‘sick,’ ‘in pain,’ ‘tired,’ and ‘helpless’ surfaced – a chorus of voices echoing a shared sense of despair. These emotions seem to mirror the uncertainty and constant barrage of distressing news that surrounds us daily, making it difficult to remain hopeful. Perhaps this sense of hopelessness is why many of us find comfort in turning away from the news, seeking relief from overwhelming negativity.
The facilitator advised that our calling is not to escape the confusion and ache, but to lament, hope, and find ways to love more deeply. It was an excellent way to start the session.
Jeremiah teaches us that the feeling of helplessness and the act of lamenting are not signs of weakness. Lament, in fact, is a sacred faith that refuses to ignore the source of the wound; it is a deeply spiritual protest declaring, “This is not how things were meant to be.” In biblical literature, “balm in Gilead” refers to a healing ointment from the region of Gilead—a powerful symbol of hope and restoration for those seeking relief and renewal.
Lament often serves as the first step toward renewal in spiritual traditions. In many communities, expressing grief openly and honestly creates the possibility for transformation: it allows people to acknowledge suffering and unite in mourning before moving together toward healing. For example, when whole communities gather to share their pain—whether after a tragedy or in moments of collective loss—the act of lament becomes a springboard for compassion, solidarity, and renewal. This process reminds us that honest sorrow is not the end, but a beginning; through lament, we hold space for hope and action to emerge.
Jeremiah refused to accept his people’s numbness to change; he yearned for renewal and mourned deeply, saying, “For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay.” Then he asks, “Is the Lord not in Zion?”—wondering if the divine Physician has truly departed. And if God is still present, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” Is there no healing for those who suffer, no restoration for the wounded?
The people of Judah were suffering due to their disobedience and lack of repentance. Jeremiah uses a metaphor: just as physical wounds need medicine to heal, so the spiritual sickness of Judah requires repentance and God’s mercy for restoration. And, just as medicine heals the body, turning back to God and seeking His forgiveness is essential for healing the moral and spiritual failings of the people.
Place the prophet Jeremiah and Jesus’ Parable of the Dishonest Manager side by side, and a profound message emerges about hope in times of crisis. Just as Jeremiah spoke hope to a people facing crisis, Jesus’ parable challenges us to act with urgency and faith when entrusted with God’s gifts. Both stories confront the reality of suffering—Jeremiah witnesses his people’s spiritual sickness and calls them to repentance and hope, while Jesus describes a steward who, facing imminent loss, acts with resolve and creativity.
At first, Jesus’ parable may seem to endorse dishonesty, which makes the parable weird, but a closer look reveals something deeper. Jesus does not praise dishonesty itself, but rather the steward’s ability to recognize opportunity and act decisively—a quality God’s people are called to embody for good. The steward acts shrewdly because he knows time is short; his sense of urgency propels him to use the resources at his disposal to secure a future. Jesus contrasts this with the hesitance of “the children of light,” who, despite being blessed with spiritual gifts, often fail to act boldly when the moment calls.
The prevailing question is, why do God’s people sometimes lack the urgency to use our gifts for healing and service, even when the need is great? How might we respond more urgently to God’s call in our own lives? The connection between Jeremiah’s lament and Jesus’ parable is a shared invitation—not to despair or retreat, but to embrace hope and act decisively, making the most of the opportunities God provides.
By reconsidering these familiar scriptures with fresh eyes, we are invited to reflect on the ways we steward our gifts and challenge ourselves to respond with both courage and compassion.
What will we do with what has been entrusted to us? How can we embody the urgent hope that both Jeremiah and Jesus proclaim?
Through our baptism, we are endowed with the balm of Christ’s Spirit—love, mercy, and hope—soothing and healing gifts already placed in our hands. This balm can take many forms in daily life: when we offer a listening ear to someone in pain, forgive those who have wronged us, or extend kindness to those who feel alone, we are applying the healing touch of Christ’s Spirit to the wounds around us. To “use” this balm means choosing compassion over indifference, hope over despair, and mercy over judgment in the moments that matter. Each act of gentleness, each word of encouragement, each step toward reconciliation is a way we share this spiritual gift, making Christ’s love tangible and real in our world.
A Prayer: Merciful God, you see the wounds of your people. By your Spirit, give us courage to act, the will to serve, and the urgency to pour out compassion. We pray in the name of Jesus,
Amen.