Daily Readings - Sat Aug 03 2024
Jeremiah
11And the priests and the prophets spoke to the leaders and to all the people, saying: "A judgment of death is for this man. For he has prophesied against this city, just as you have heard with your own ears.12And Jeremiah spoke to all the leaders and to the entire people, saying: "The Lord has sent me to prophesy, about this house and about this city, all the words that you have heard13Now, therefore, make your ways and your intentions good, and heed the voice of the Lord your God. And then the Lord will repent of the evil that he has spoken against you14But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do to me what is good and right in your eyes15Yet truly, know and understand this: if you kill me, you will be bringing innocent blood against yourselves, and against this city and its inhabitants. For in truth, the Lord sent me to you, so as to speak all these words in your hearing.16And then the leaders and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: "There is no judgment of death against this man. For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.24But the hand of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, was with Jeremiah, so that he would not be delivered into the hands of the people, and so that they would not put him to death
Matthew
1In that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the news about Jesus2And he said to his servants: "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miracles are at work in him.3For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother4For John was telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her.5And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet6Then, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in their midst, and it pleased Herod7And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of him8But, having been advised by her mother, she said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.9And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given10And he sent and beheaded John in prison11And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother12And his disciples approached and took the body, and they buried it. And arriving, they reported it to Jesus
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful examples of courage and conviction in the face of adversity. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands trial before the leaders of Jerusalem for speaking God’s truth, which is uncomfortable and challenging to hear. Jeremiah’s message is not his own but comes from the Lord, and he insists that his words are meant to call the people to repentance and to amend their ways. Despite the threat of death, Jeremiah remains steadfast, trusting in God’s providence. The leaders, moved by his sincerity and the recognition of his divine mission, spare his life, thanks in part to the intervention of Ahikam, a man of good will.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different outcome. John the Baptist, a prophet and precursor of Jesus, suffers martyrdom at the hands of Herod. John’s crime is his bold denunciation of Herod’s sinful union with Herodias, his brother’s wife. Herod, though intrigued by John and aware of his holiness, allows his pride and fear of embarrassment to lead him to order John’s execution. The tragic story highlights the consequences of sin and the dangers of allowing personal desires to cloud judgment. John’s martyrdom, however, is not in vain; it bears witness to the truth and prepares the way for the ministry of Jesus.
Both readings remind us of the cost of living according to God’s will and the importance of moral courage. Jeremiah and John the Baptist are prophets who risk everything to speak the truth, even when it is unpopular or dangerous. Their examples challenge us to reflect on how we live our faith in daily life. Are we willing to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult? Do we have the courage to confront sin in ourselves and in the world around us? The readings call us to trust in God’s providence, as Jeremiah did, and to remain faithful to our mission, as John the Baptist did, even in the face of adversity. Let us ask for the grace to live with integrity and to bear witness to the truth, knowing that our efforts, like those of the prophets, can lead to transformation and renewal.