Jeremiah 26:1-9 / Matthew 13:54-58
Jeremiah prophesies trouble: The people threatened Jeremiah.
When Samuel Morse explained his plans for telegraph
communication in 1842, some people ridiculed him. When Bell Telephone applied
for a patent in 1876, some communication experts dismissed the telephone idea
as a toy. When Thomas Edison outlined his plans for an incandescent light in
1878, the British Parliament laughed at the idea. Something like that happened
to Jeremiah in today's reading. He was not only ridiculed but threatened with
death for speaking out in God's name. *****
How do we respond when people make fun of us for doing or
saying what we think is right? "Happy are those who are persecuted because
they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!" Matthew
5:10
*****
If someone were to ask you who preached the homily at Mass
last Sunday, you might take a while to recall which priest it was.
But if the next question would be "So what did he
preach about?" then we really have to crank up our memory in order to
recall what we heard. And ten other persons who were there listening to the
same homily would have ten versions of what was preached.
That could mean that people are doing their own reflections
about the Word of God. Yet people also tend to listen with varying degrees of
openness and receptivity. And that depends largely on who is speaking.
In the two readings of today, we see two types of people who
are not open to what is said. In the 1st reading is the type who is not open to
correction, and hence do not want to hear the truth.
In the gospel is the type who is not open to the person, and
hence is not open to the truth. We have a bit of both in each of us. But when
we challenge ourselves to listen to what is said and not how it is said or who
is saying it, then we will be able to hear the truth. Then we will hear the
prophetic voice of God.
****
Friday of 17th Week in
Ordinary Time
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 for ever.
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.
