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. Commentary is in blue.
The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people, “This man deserves death; he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”
Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people: “It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city all that you have heard. Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds; listen to the voice of the LORD your God, so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.”
“As for me, I am in your hands; do with me what you think good and right. But mark well: if you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves, on this city and its citizens. For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you, to speak all these things for you to hear.”
Thereupon the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve death; it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.” So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink! may I be rescued from my foes, and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me, nor the abyss swallow me up, nor the pit close its mouth over me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink! may I be rescued from my foes, and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me, nor the abyss swallow me up, nor the pit close its mouth over me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
***
These readings address the same dynamic as yesterday's readings: that some folks reject God’s gracious overtures/efforts to help them out of sin.
These readings describe some ways to respond to that rejection and the harms it causes:
- Perseverance in spite of/in the face of opposition. Both Jeremiah and John the baptizer kept at the tasks God gave them, even though powerful folks took strong actions against them. Other scriptures addressing this dynamic are collected in Wisdom Principles--Fortitude.
- Prayer/seeking God. That is exemplified by today’s psalm; the psalmist responds to adversity by asking God to deliver him. It is also exemplified in today’s gospel; John’s disciples respond to his murder by going to Jesus. That response is also urged in Philippians 4:4-9 and James 1:2-5 and exemplified in Sirach 46:16-17, Sirach 48:17-21, andSirach 51:6-12.
- Praise and thanksgiving. This is counterintuitive, but praising and thanking God in the midst of difficulty calms and reassures you; it get’s your mind off your troubles and onto the One who can deliver you. That’s probably why Sirach 2:10 advises us to recall God’s faithfulness in the midst of difficulty. The immediate circumstances may not inspire praise/gratitude, but God has done other things in each of our lives to praise and thank Him for. Recalling them encourages us in the midst o our troubles.
- Doing what good you can, even if it doesn’t fix everything. We see that in the actions of Ahikam, son of Shaphan sheltering Jeremiah and John’s disciples in interring him. Psalm 34:14 and Psalm 37:3 & 27 likewise tell us to respond to evil in that way.
It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy
reform your ways and your deeds; listen to the voice of the LORD your God, so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you
your great love
your great love
your great love
the LORD hears the poor
the LORD hears the poor
his own who are in bonds he spurns not
your great love
reform your ways and your deeds
listen to the voice of the LORD your God
protected Jeremiah
I will praise the name of God in song
I will glorify him with thanksgiving.seek God
righteousness
His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him
they went and told Jesus.
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