Saturday, July 2, 2016

Jeremiah 26: 11-16, 24

The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,
“This man deserves death;
he has prophesied against this city,
as you have heard with your own ears.”
Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:
“It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city
all that you have heard.
Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;
listen to the voice of the LORD your God,
so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.
As for me, I am in your hands;
do with me what you think good and right.
But mark well: if you put me to death,
it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves,
on this city and its citizens.
For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you,
to speak all these things for you to hear.”

Thereupon the princes and all the people
said to the priests and the prophets,
“This man does not deserve death;
it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.”

So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah,
so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Those who live in darkness never want to hear the truth. Those who speak the truth of God will always be hated, ridiculed, and persecuted, even on to death. This is the promise our Lord assured us of. Yet, if we are true to our faith we have no choice but to stand for the truth the Lord handed down to us through his word, his action, and his holy Church.

Jeremiah was threatened with death but he did not let that deter him. He did not back down from the message God sent him to deliver. He is willing to die for the Lord.

We live in very similar times where people are being put to death every day for the faith they have in God. Society demands we change our views, that we get with the times. Even many of our brothers and sisters in faith have bought into the lies the devil has convinced so many of. We will soon see clergy in our own country jailed for failing to change their will to that of man. Like Jeremiah, Christians everywhere need to stand defiantly and resist the temptation of capitulation.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Cultures come and go and this earth will perish in flame but the truth of the Lord endures forever.