“This man does not deserve death. It is in the name of the Lord, our God, that he speaks to us.” Jeremiah 26:16.
Today’s readings depict tales of two prophets.
Jeremiah is condemned by Jerusalem’s spiritual leaders. Only an enemy would utter such threats against his city. A force of evil, this prophet must be destroyed. Jeremiah defends himself before the prince and the people. He speaks in a peaceful manner. These dire warnings had come to him from God. Empowered by this love, Jeremiah conveys God’s call for repentance. The prince and people listen. They hear the truth and do not blame the messenger. Touched by God’s mercy, they repent.
John the Baptist baffled authority. He had no weapons or riches. A disheveled desert dweller, he stayed close to God, and this clarity threatened the king. Divorce and marriage among the powerful were no business of this wild man. To silence the prophet, Herod imprisons John. Still, he is intrigued by John’s presence, this glimpse into another kind of power. A glimpse, however, does not derail Herod, who yields to Herodias’s thirst for revenge.
Truth is one way God draws closer to us. To connect with reality to any degree requires attention. We set aside tasks and pause to listen. Illusions, with their promise of quick comfort, often block our view. It can be painful to open our hearts, ask questions, and seek understanding. Maybe this is not what I want to hear or see. No wonder we heap scorn on the messenger. No wonder rulers surround themselves with acolytes who flatter them and ignore their lies. No wonder prophets are suspect. The warmth of truth takes time to reach us.
We can handle what is real in small bites. Truth in its totality belongs to God.
Dear God, please disclose what sets us free.
Jeanne Schuler
We live in the city near the university with our three children, so work and family form almost a whole…but not a seamless whole. Family, faith, work, old neighborhoods, leftist (leftover) politics, and enough community are my measures of reality. Also, a good dog named Sid.
Scripture has depths missing from other forms of wisdom. This is closer to the ground we walk on.
