Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Jeremiah was a man who should have been afraid. As a prophet of God he was compelled to speak many unpopular truths to those in power. He was warning the governing class that to make alliances with unholy nations and causes would bring down the entire nation. Jeremiah’s words caused many people to whisper great threats against him. Even his friends turned against him. There were those who were looking for any way possible to trap him so that they could expel him from the community, or worse, kill him. According to tradition, Jeremiah was eventually stoned to death, and the country fell as Jeremiah had predicted.
What kept Jeremiah going in the face of such opposition? The belief that the truth would eventually come to light, that his words would eventually be vindicated, and that God would set things right again and, even more, Jeremiah was consoled by God’s great care for him.
Jeremiah is the example of the Gospel saying of Jesus, “Fear no one.”
In our Gospel reading today Jesus went on to say that God’s truth eventually does come out: “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed.” And that what the Lord speaks to us in prayer should not be kept a secret from others: “What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light.”
There is no doubt that our Church teaches and proclaims many things that are not popular or in vogue. We advance the Gospel of Life in the midst of a very powerful culture of death. We proclaim Jesus as Lord, while there are those who mock him. And, because of our steadfast faith, there are times when we must say some very difficult things to those in power because we fear the judgment of God more than we fear the judgment of mere human beings. Or, as Jesus put it, “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” So, we pray for the gift of courage to be a prophetic voice in the world that, in some places, seems to have gone mad.
Finally, in today’s Gospel, Jesus makes us aware that God loves us, despite the opposition we often face in this life because we follow him. He says that God knows us, even to the point of being able to count the number of hairs on our head (he has an easier job of that with me than we many others!). The knowledge of God’s love for us gives us great hope as we press forward with Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
So, we are urged to acknowledge God, even when others deny him. And, we are given the task of taking the truths of our faith into the world, where some of the basic truths of life have become so confused and controverted. For, we believe, the truth will set us free.
May God bless you and those you love.