RBWords

     If truly prophetic voices are hard to find sometimes, the fates of Jeremiah, John the Baptist and, yes, Jesus may be the reason.  Prophetic voices disturb the status quo of power.  Jeremiah faced a lynch mob!  John the Baptist faced an outraged "first lady."  Jesus faced religious (scribes, Pharisees, Saduccees) and political (Roman empire) authorities.  Jeremiah confronted his adversaries with their dependence on foreign allies and foreign deities.  John the Baptist confronted Herod and his incestuous marriage to the wife of his half-brother.  Jesus confronted the religious authorities for their narrow and manipulative interpretation of the Mosaic Law and preached a "kingdom" which aroused the suspicion of Roman authorities.  Prophets are fated to make people uncomfortable.  Rather than be converted, it is easier to get rid of that uncomfortable voice.

     We are hearing uncomfortable voices in our own time.  We are being confronted with racism and our individualistic and political resistance to efforts to control a pandemic.  If we find ourselves wishing that those voices would "just go away," we may find ourselves in the crowd facing Jeremiah or Jesus or the fury of Herodias and yelling, "He must be put to death!" or "Crucify him!" or "Bring his head on a platter!"    That makes for uncomfortable thoughts.  Traditionally we call that an "examination of conscience!"  AMEN