We see a lot of parallels between how the prophet Jeremiah was treated in his day and how Jesus was treated by the people in his life and ministry. Jeremiah’s critics denounced him and attacked him and persecuted him. Even Jeremiah’s friends abandoned him. Jeremiah states that even his friends are anticipating his downfall. In Jesus’ life, it seems like from the very beginning, the scribes and Pharisees saw Jesus as the enemy. They felt threatened by Jesus, his message and his ministry, so they were always plotting against him, trying to trap him and get him into trouble. In today’s Gospel, the Jews are ready to stone him. Today, after our mass is concluded, as we do on every Friday during Lent, we commemorate Jesus’ journey to the cross as we pray the ancient prayer devotion of the stations of the cross. A week from today, we will venerate the cross of Jesus at our Good Friday prayer service, commemorating the very day that he died on the cross. Today, as we contemplate the cross of Jesus, of the sufferings that he bore, we will receive the anointing of the sick, as Jesus enters our lives as the great physician to bring healing into our lives in the midst of our own sufferings and brokenness.
Let us remember how in our readings today, Jeremiah had confidence in God. Jeremiah knew that his attackers and critics would not prevail in the end. He remained the faithful prophet of God throughout his lifetime. And Jesus also remained faithful to his Father and to his mission even to his death on the cross. Let us too remain faithful and remain confident in these last days of our journey during the holy season of Lent.
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