Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - 2nd Week of Lent - Wed
[Jer 18:18-20 and Matt 20:17-28]"Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah. It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests, nor of counsel from the wise, nor messages from the prophets. And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue: let us carefully note his every word." [Jeremiah] "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." [Matthew]
The gospels are consistent in reporting Jesus' predicitons of his suffering, death and resurrection. Also consistent is the inability of the disciples to understand what he meant! Immediately after the prediction recorded in today's gospel scripture, the mother of James and John tries to get preferential treatment for her sons in Jesus' kingdom! He questions them as to whether they are willing to accept the same fate he will face. They claim they are! He assures them they will!
The Book of Jeremiah records the kind of thinking and plotting that often results from the preaching of prophetic figures. Jeremiah was seen by the powers-that-be as a dangerous nuisance. Jesus would be seen in the same way by the Jerusalem Jewish authorities. What comes through is the necessity of courage in the face of certain opposition to the prophetic stance.
Here in the USA, it doesn't take a lot of courage to be a Catholic or any kind of Christian in most circumstances. Occasionally there will be hostility to those who keep vigil outside abortion clinics or at vigils before executions, but the risk of life and limb is slight. More courage is required to say things that challenge the cherished political or social prejudices that clearly contradict the teaching of our church. That can get some angry comments from parishioners and even vandalism of homes and businesses! How courageous are we in the face of those social and political ideas and attitudes that are contrary to our faith? Do we have the courage to face our own prejudices? Lent offers a good opportunity to ask those questions and face the answers! AMEN