Word to the Wise
Wednesday, July 27, 2022 - Wednesday in the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jer 15:10, 16-21 and Matt 13:44-46]Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! - a man of strife and contention to all the land." I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me. When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name of Lord, God of hosts. [Jeremiah]
The prophet Jeremiah gives us a deep look into the feelings and worries of a biblical prophet. He has been traditionally referred to as "the reluctant prophet." In today's passage, we learn that God's "words" are Jeremiah's "joy and happiness," but when he [Jeremiah] speaks those words, he is cursed and rejected.
Jeremiah's situation is one that challenges any person of faith. Pope Francis has challenged every baptized member of the church to be a "missionary disciple." This means that we have to go beyond the purely private "joy and happiness" that God's word can bring to us and share that word. When we do that, we may experience resistance and even curses. I am reminded of the lines from the Letter to the Hebrews: "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged swords, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is nakedand exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account." [Heb. 4:12-13] That kind of word can make some folks pretty uncomfortable, but a prophet is called to speak a word that can "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Discipleship may require us to do just that! AMEN