17th Week, Saturday, July 30
Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 / Matthew 14:1-12
God speaks through Jeremiah: "Reform your ways!"
The Dallas Morning News carried a story about an Olympic hopeful. It began: "Jeff Kostoffs list of achievements fills an entire page in the Stanford swimming guide, but missing among the . . . U.S. distance records, NCAA titles, and medal performances is mentioned of . . . his best friend from high school.
" 'He was a swimmer, too, but he wasn't that talented,'
said Kostoff. 'He realized the talent I had, and convinced me to stop
screwing around and concentrate on swimming.' " Jeremiah tried to provide
a similar function for God's people. Recall a time when we challenged
someone about squandering God's gifts to them. Did anyone ever help us by
challenging us on this point? "Our chief wants in life is someone who shall
make us do what we can." Ralph Waldo Emerson
****
At times we wonder if being good and doing good is really
worth it. Because very often, we see, and even experience, that good is being
re-paid with evil. John the Baptist just wanted Herod to repent and live a good
life. Because what Herod did was leading to self-destruction. John the
Baptist had compassion for Herod.
In fact, Herod knew it, and that was why he was distressed
when he had to give the orders for John's execution. But goodness cannot be
silenced or put to death. Because in the person of Jesus, Herod was once again
reminded of the goodness of John the Baptist. When we live out the Christian
values of love, patience, gentleness, humility, etc., and we get slapped in the
face, we may wonder if it is worth it.
But let us remember that all good comes from God. When we do
good, the benefactors are not just the others. We ourselves begin to realize
our Christian identity and see the power of goodness and the power of God's
love happening in the lives of others.
****
ARE PROPHETS WELCOME?
Introduction
Today the prophet Jeremiah warns the people that their trust in the temple as
God’s presence among them is of no value unless they make God present in their
lives by living their religion, and the temple will be destroyed as once the
Philistines destroyed the sanctuary of Shiloh. The priests and the people
threaten to kill Jeremiah.
Jesus is not welcome either among his people, in his town,
his home country, for he is disturbing people’s consciences. He confronts them
with the challenging reality of God and his ways. Christ shakes his people from
their security in-laws and outward practices. How dare he, one from their own
town and street? Who does he think he is? Dare we to be the prophet’s voice
needed today? Dare we to be unconventional?
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, we are but timid people, and yet you expect of
us to speak the word of your Son by the witnessing of our lives. We pray you
for the courage to live the kind of life that your Son lived and to follow him
wherever he leads us without the luggage of our securities. Grant us this
conviction through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commentary
Both Jesus and Jeremiah were prophets who were not honored
in their own country. Although the people were amazed at Jesus’ learning and
insight, he was such a “local boy” that he could not be taken seriously.
Jeremiah’s message was so threatening with reference to the temple and the city
that it seemed sacrilegious and out of place. The best solution was to be rid
of the prophet. In many ways we are not much different. We settle into a
particular way of thinking and make what we hear conform to that. We see acts
of violence perpetrated against innocent people. When we wage a war we see only
one side and fail to see the hurt that may be present in the opposition. We
sometimes exploit the natural resources of poorer countries and then fail to
understand their resentment. Let us try to have an open and understanding
spirit. The law of averages tells us that there are times when we will be right
and times when we will be wrong. At least we want to try to comprehend what
others are saying. It is surprising to see how much we can change and learn
from others.
Points to Ponder
Opposition to Jeremiah
Jesus as the “local boy”
A willingness to learn and to change
Intercessions
– That the Spirit of Christ may inspire our leaders of the
Church with prophetic zeal to lead our people to true Christian freedom, we
pray:
– That there may be prophets also among us today, however
annoying we may find them, to remind us of what God expects of us, we pray:
– That the world of today may not turn a deaf ear to the
voices of prophets who plead for peace and justice for all, we pray: Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, we want this bread and wine to signify that as
we share your Son’s table we also accept to be with him signs of contradiction.
Let him change us from weak and faint-hearted people into people with the
courage to live as we believe and to speak out boldly for all that is right and
good, as Jesus did, your Son, who lives with you and with us forever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, your Son Jesus has spoken among us prophetic
words and deeds of courage and self-giving. Make us bold enough to go with him
his way to people, even if the best of our Intercessions are misunderstood. We
say so in fear and trembling, but we want to be humble disciples of Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We should learn to listen to prophets, people who have something to say that is
perhaps not pleasing but to the point. And we too should have the courage to
speak up when needed, especially when we see injustice done to people. May
almighty God give you this courage and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
