The prophet Jeremiah served God in the 6th and 7th centuries before Christ’s birth during the reigns of 5 different kings. There were many times that Jeremiah received great opposition and criticism, including for his support of the religious reforms of King Josiah, which included the king’s suppression of local religious shrines. Today, we hear Jeremiah compare himself to a “trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse.” Later, a similar comparison will be made with Jesus as he is led to his death on the cross. So many of the prophets of Ancient Israel had the people plotting against them as they did not want to hear the truth as to how they strayed from the faith and how they turned away from God. Since Jeremiah did not have any children, the people thought that killing him would like cutting down a tree, that he would not be remembered since he did not have children as a legacy. However, like many martyrs for the faith, Jeremiah is remembered through the annals of history, while those who plotted against him are the ones who are not remembered. God is ultimately Jeremiah’s protection against his enemies. It is God who will have the final judgment. It is God who will ensure that the truth be proclaimed, that justice and peace will prevail. In the same, Jesus is remembered as the stone that was rejected that now becomes the cornerstone. We may feel opposition and obstacles in the world today to the faith that we profess and proclaim. May we remember the perseverance and faith that Jeremiah embodies. May we take courage on our Lenten journey.
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