LENT SERIES DAY 32: SATURDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT (The Purpose of Receiving the Eucharist) (https://youtu.be/L52EpfJDWrE)
Nobody Has Ever Spoken Like Jesus
Brethren, today's readings continue with the theme of rejection, abandonment, and passing wrong judgement. Though the time for Jesus to be arrested has not come, these readings point to us the reality that Jesus will be rejected, abandoned, even betrayed by his own disciples and then judged and sentenced to death unjustly. They also show us that, as Christians who speak in the name of God, we can have such experiences, and therefore we must stand firm in faith until we reach our destiny.
In the first reading, we see a plot against Jeremiah, a plot to cut him out of the land that is like cutting the tree of its roots; the only result is for it to die. Why is it so? Because he has spoken in the name of God, he has become a prophet and challenged their every ungodly way of life. In the eyes of the people, he was against them, since the word of God is always sharper than the double-edged sword and challenges the people's comfort zone. But Jeremiah puts his trust in the Lord and takes refuge in him as he waits for his just sentence and vengeance on them.
Are we ready to stand for God despite all insults, threats, rejection, abandonment, and not listening to us? Are we ready to speak boldly in the name of God and challenge the existing structures and comfort zones that exploit, discriminate, and deny human dignity? It does not need to be a priest, brother, sister, or catechist, but it is for everyone starting to be a prophet from their home or family village and going up. We can't expect big changes when we don't start from our families. Of course, this always has a cross to bear, a cross of being a prophet, and we have to be ready for it and face it.
The best example of the one who took up a cross (persecution) of a prophet is Jesus, who really accepted it even up to death. Jesus was persecuted not only by his death but since the beginning of his ministry, for we see rejection in his hometown, and in many instances, the Pharisees and Scribes sought to arrest him because of challenging all the customs in the society. Amidst all these, Jesus was conscious of the consequences of what he was doing but continued with it, a sign of full faithfulness in God. Jesus knew clearly that the Sanhedrin and Romans would execute such people, but that didn't threaten Him even after seeing what happened to John the Baptist. He continued to speak so boldly and eloquently that everyone was impressed, even the soldiers who wanted to arrest him.
Among those who persecuted Jesus were not his audience; in fact, those were his protectors, for in many instances the Pharisees and Scribes could not arrest Jesus because people regarded him as a prophet, a Messiah, and so they could not attack him because they feared that people would attack them. How have you and I defended Jesus by proclaiming him as Lord, Christ, Messiah, and Saviour everywhere, even in areas of anti-Christ? Remember, the people were barred from calling him Christ lest they die, but they continued calling him so. Let us therefore follow their example. We are also encouraged to draw inspiration from Jesus in our words and actions so that we leave our enemies with no choice but to believe in us and what we say, as the guards confessed, "Nobody has ever spoken like that."
Reflect today on how you have been able to be touched by Jesus' word, or from a sermon, or a reflection like this. How have you integrated it into your life? On the other hand, how have you inspired people with your words, actions, and way of life so that people will start saying he is a prophet, holy, and a pure witness of Christ? This is giving good witness to God our Father in heaven and in Jesus Christ our Lord. This witness gives us Grace, an expensive Grace, not a cheap one (with cheap grace there is a cross), and when we are aware of it, we give an authentic witness to God.
Let Us Pray
That today our righteousness and witness will surpass that of Pharisees and Scribes who see good things in a person, and instead of judging him right, they judge him wrongly. We pray for firm faith in Jesus that we will be able to accomplish our mission in this world. We continue to observe our three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Amen
Wishing you a blessed Lenten period
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