In our readings today, we see similarities in how both the prophet Jeremiah and Jesus were treated. Jeremiah had many who criticized him, denounced him and persecuted him. Even Jeremiah’s friends abandoned him; he says that they were awaiting his downfall. We know very well that the scribes, the Pharisees, and many of the Jews had turned against Jesus. They tried to trap him into violating God’s laws. In today’s Gospel, they are even ready to stone him to death. Today, before Mass, as is our custom on Fridays during Lent, we commemorated Jesus’ journey to the cross as we prayed the ancient devotion of the stations of the cross. A week from today, we will venerate Jesus’ cross at our Good Friday liturgy, commemorating the day that he died on the cross. Jeremiah had confidence in God. He knew that his attackers and critics would not prevail. Jeremiah remained strong, loyally following God as his faithful prophet throughout his lifetime. Jesus also remained faithful to his Father and to his mission even to his death on the cross.
I found this meditation on the first station of the cross, of Jesus being condemned to die. It states: "Lord, you were condemned to death because fear of what other people might think suppressed the voice of conscience. So too, throughout history, the innocent have always been maltreated, condemned, and killed. How many times have we ourselves preferred success to the truth, our reputation to justice? Strengthen the quiet voice of our conscience, your own voice, in our lives. Look at me as you looked at Peter after his denial. Let your gaze penetrate our hearts and indicate the direction our lives must take. On the day of Pentecost you stirred the hearts of those who, on Good Friday, clamored for your death, and you brought them to conversion. In this way you gave hope to all. Grant us, ever anew, the grace of conversion."
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