Readings: Jer. 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27
Gripped by the Power of Love
1. In today’s first reading, Jeremiah used the language of a betrayed lover to describe his relationship with God. God seduced, enticed, and manipulated him with promises of fidelity and commitment into a relationship. The Lord said to Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (Jer.1:5). And when Jeremiah protested, “Ah, Lord God! I know not how to speak; I am too young.” God told him, “Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you” (Jer. 1:7-8) The Lord then touched his mouth, saying, “See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.” (Jer. 1:9-10). Jeremiah was further assured: “But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: Against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” (Jer. 1:17-19).
2. But why was Jeremiah so mad? It was because “Violence and outrage is my message.” Because of that, God’s Word has brought him “Derision and reproach all the day.” Jeremiah thought that the promises that God made to him at the time of his call would mean that everyone would love him and be receptive to his prophetic messages. But this was not to be the case. Those he preached to hated him instead, they ridiculed him, suspended him in pit of mud, threw him into jail and threatened to kill him. And so, in the first reading, Jeremiah cries out to God, complaining, “You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.” (Jer. 20:7). Jeremiah’s plight is that of every prophet who preaches the word of God. No wonder why some of today’s preachers preach what people want to hear and not God’s word.
3. Jeremiah’s burden came from his mission. He was to point out rottenness, corruption in high places, in sacred sanctuaries, among people who were supposed to be shining examples of virtue and champions of justice. He called on the priests to reform their lives and confronted kings and rulers to render justice to the poor. When he prophesied violence and destruction, he was mocked and ridiculed by the powerful and the priests. And so, he resolved not to speak of God’s Words anymore. But he immediately confesses his complete impotence to remain silent. Instead he cried out that the word of God was like fire burning in his heart, imprisoned by his bones, “I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” God would not let him be. Jeremiah is gripped by the power of unrelenting love, and so must keep on preaching.
4. Jeremiah had to deal with the burden of his mission, just as Jesus Christ had his as well, dealing with his disciples who did not quite know what his mission was all about. Last week he confronted his apostles with the question: “Who do you say I am?” Peter had A+ with his answer that Christ was the anointed one of God. Christ gave him exulted position and called him the Rock on which he would build his church. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom, to bind and to lose. You can say Peter had his five minutes of fame. But in today’s reading Peter is called Satan. “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” One wonders how deep Peter’s knowledge of Christ really was. In saying that Christ was the anointed one, Peter’s understanding was that as the anointed one Christ would rescue God’s people from the hands of the Romans; he would establish a kingdom in which there would be on more poor or sick or blind or lame. In that kingdom, as we recall in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5 - 7), there will be peace, love and justice. Sinners would be converted, and the world would be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
5. The Anointed One was expected to be a high priest or a judge, he was to be a warrior or a great prophet like Elijah. He was to be so great, prosperous and powerful that suffering and pains would have no place in his life. The Apostles on the other hand saw themselves as sharing in the greatness of their master. They were all destined to have a high and influential position in that kingdom. How could Christ be talking about suffering, the cross or even dying! Peter had to prevent Christ from talking like that. But Christ saw in Peter’s reaction another form of temptation that was trying to derail him from his mission. He called him Satan, tempter, a barrier an adversary and a stumbling block. Just like Jeremiah, no one wants to suffer, no one wants the cross, no one wants pains of any kind. We want an easy way out; and so, we cut corners, peddle with the truth, and compromise our principles and follow the crowd. No, Lord, this must not happen to you. So, Jesus rebuked Peter and reminded him that he does not give instructions to Jesus but should learn from the master.
6. Jesus lived a sacrificial life. His love went above and beyond his call of duty, because his aim was always to bring us to a life of union with God. And so, Christ constantly calls us to take up our cross and follow him daily. He said that we must deny ourselves for his sake. This means saying ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to self and self-inclinations. He calls on us to dethrone ourselves and enthrone God in all spheres of our lives. We must seek to please God in all that we do. Secondly, Christ invites us to take up our crosses as he did his and live a life of sacrificial service. We must abandon our personal ambition to serve Christ and those entrusted to our care. By so doing we learn true happiness which lies in following Jesus, obeying his command and walking in his footsteps. We do this through prayer, through our sacramental life and living a life of service. Let us pray at this Mass that we may offer ourselves, like St. Paul reminds us in the second reading, “As a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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