This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks willtake you to additional translations of today’s readings, other relevant scriptures, and collections of scriptures addressing related principles. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us about something God wants us to do. Text in red tells describes what God wants us to avoid. Commentary is in blue.
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD; whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. Perhaps they will listen and back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds. Say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city to which all the nations of the earth shall refer when cursing another.
Now the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, “You must be put to death! Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD: ‘This house shall be like Shiloh,’ and ‘This city shall be desolate and deserted’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
As in today’s gospel, God reaches out to people where they are.
As in today’s gospel, God reaches out even though many will disregard Him.
As in today’s gospel, God reaches out through the place of regular religious observance.
God reaches out in spite of the people’s prior sin. He constantly does that, as reflected in the scriptures collected inWisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin.
As in today’s gospel, God reaches out through a messenger many will discount, reject.
As in today’s psalm and gospel, popular/societal opinion misses God’s point, is at odds with Him.
R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Those outnumber the hairs of my head who hate me without cause.
Too many for my strength are they who wrongfully are my enemies.
Must I restore what I did not steal?
Those outnumber the hairs of my head who hate me without cause.
Too many for my strength are they who wrongfully are my enemies.
Must I restore what I did not steal?
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Since for your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother’s sons,
Because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me with your constant help.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
As in today’s first reading and gospel, popular/societal opinion misses God’s point, is at odds with Him
As in today’s first reading and gospel, a devoted servant of Yahweh perseveres in the face of rejection.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever; this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever; this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
Jesus comes to us, where we are.
He comes even though many will not “get” His wonderful nature and the wonderful things He offers us.
He comes to the synagogue:
- Where people congregate—He goes where folks are because He loves and wants to reach/bless folks.
- He comes to those who utilize/are faithful to the regular means of seeking God. Scripture contains multiple examples of God moving in extraordinary ways in situations where people are faithful to ordinary religious practice. See e.g.,1 Samuel 1, Luke 2:22-38, Acts 2:1 and following. We should therefore be faithful in utilizing those means.
We should be open to and looking for God’s presence, provision, and blessing in our ordinary, day-to-day, lives, particularly in our regular religious observances.
Skepticism separates us from Jesus and the blessings He offers us.
As in today’s first reading, God reaches out through a messenger many will discount, reject.
As in today’s first reading and psalm, popular, societal, opinion misses God’s point, is at odds with Him.
***
The common thread in today’s readings is God reaching out to us, but many folks not “getting it” and therefore missing the good God wants for/from them. How do these readings tell us to respond to that?
- By being faithful to regular means of interacting with God.
- By being open to, in fact looking for, God to operate through those means in ways you don’t expect.
- By responding to adverse circumstances/rejection with prayer.
- By not letting yourself be limited/deterred by popular/societal norms/opinion.
this message came from the LORD
Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD
my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them
your great love
your great love
your great love
your great kindness
your great love
your great kindness
your great love
The word of the Lord remains forever
the word that has been proclaimed to you.
Jesus came to his native place and taught
in their synagogue
such wisdom and mighty deeds
he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith
for your sake I bear insult
I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God!
disobey me
not living according to the law I placed before you
not listening to the words of my servants the prophets
they took offense at him.
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