Jeremiah has been described as the weeping prophet. Fr. Rich goes one step further and
calls him the Prozac prophet. And I think Jeremiah should be read
every Monday morning. What better
way to begin the week with Jeremiah’s doom and gloom?
Yet
in all seriousness, it would be a mistake to label Jeremiah as a crybaby and
forget his crucial role in salvation history. Indeed, Jeremiah most clearly pointed to Jesus Christ out of
all the prophets. He did so in his
teachings, but that was consistent with the others. What was unique about Jeremiah is that his very life was a
foreshadowing of Jesus.
Consider
the words of Jeremiah’s opponents: “Come,
let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah…let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word.” What does this sound like? It is an identical plot the scribes, Pharisees and priests
of Jesus’ time contrived to catch Jesus.
Plus, both Jeremiah and Jesus were arrested, persecuted and killed while
remaining innocent men.
How
well are you following the example of Jeremiah, and ultimately Jesus, in your
life? Do you suffer well for the
Gospel? Are you persecuted for
living out your faith? In any
case, it is okay to cry out to God—both Jeremiah and Jesus did. But are you willing to give your life
for love of God and neighbor?
This
Lenten season is all about learning to sacrifice. Please God, may we follow the great example of Jeremiah in
preaching God’s Word even in the face of suffering. And may we take up our cross and follow Christ to Calvary.
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