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Jeremiah 26:11-16,24
Psalm 69:15-16,30-31,33-34
Matthew 14:1-12
When Jeremiah gave his temple sermon, he said that if the people of Judah continue to disobey the Lord, not living according to the law and not listening to the words of the prophets, then the temple of the Lord and Jerusalem will be destroyed like the city of Shiloh. The first reaction of the people is not one of repentance, but rather of condemnation of Jeremiah. The people cry out: «This man deserves death».
Jeremiah defends himself saying the the Lord sent him to prophesy against the temple, the house of the Lord, and the city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s message is simple: reform your ways and your deeds; listen to the voice of the Lord, so that the Lord will repent of the evil with which he threatens you. Jeremiah declares his innocence, and that if the people carry out their judgment, then they will bring innocent blood upon themselves.
Once again, the story of Jeremiah looks forward to the trial of Jesus. Pilate declares himself innocent of Jesus’ blood. And all the people answered: «His blood be on us and on our children!» (Matthew 27:25). The outcome of Jeremiah and Jesus are different. When Jeremiah declares his innocence, the people immediately switch their cry: «This man does not deserve death». When Pilate declares the innocence of Jesus, the people, led by the chief priests and elders, cry out: «Crucify him! Crucify him!» (Mark 15:13-14; Luke 23:21).
We see another contrast between Jeremiah, who was saved, and John the Baptist, who was killed by Herod. Both Jeremiah and John preached the truth. Jeremiah revealed the people’s disobedience; John revealed Herod’s unlawful union with Herodias. Just as Jeremiah was apprehended; John was arrested and thrown into prison. Herod did not kill John the Baptist, because many people regarded him as a prophet of the Lord.
Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When Herod heard John, he was much perplexed, and yet heard John gladly (Mark 6:20). Just as Pilate didn’t want to hand Jesus over; Herod didn’t want to hand John over. Both men, however, gave into pressure. Pilate feared Rome; Herod felt obliged to fulfill his oaths in the presence of his guests.
In the end, Jeremiah’s life points to Jesus’ persecution and rejection. He will be thrown into the pit and rescued. John the Baptist, on the other hand, is Jesus’ forerunner in life and in death. John was persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and to him belongs the Kingdom of heaven, inaugurated by Jesus Christ.
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Readers may contact Father Jason Mitchell at mitchelljason2011@gmail.com.
