Daily Readings - Sat Aug 01 2020
Jeremiah
11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, "This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.13Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.14But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.15Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve the sentence of death, 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 was not given over to the people to be put to death.
Matthew
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus,2and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."3For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,4because John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."5And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.6But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,7so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."9And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.10He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,11and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.12And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful figures, Jeremiah and John the Baptist, who embody the courage and conviction required to speak truth to power. Jeremiah, a prophet in Jerusalem, faced opposition for his prophecy against the city and its leaders. Despite the threat of death, he remained steadfast, trusting in God’s mission. Similarly, John the Baptist, in the Gospel, lost his life for condemning Herod’s immoral actions. Both prophets stood firm in their commitment to God’s truth, even in the face of severe consequences.
The context of these readings reveals the tension between speaking truth and the cost that often accompanies it. Jeremiah’s prophecy was met with hostility, yet he was spared through the intervention of Ahikam, illustrating God’s providence. John the Baptist’s story, set amidst Herod’s moral corruption and fear of public opinion, highlights the tragic outcome of speaking truth in a morally bankrupt environment. Both narratives underscore the theme of prophetic witness, where the call to speak God’s truth is paramount, regardless of the outcome.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to reflect on our own commitment to truth and justice. Like Jeremiah and John, we are called to be prophetic voices in our own contexts—whether in our families, workplaces, or communities. This may mean standing up for what is right, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. The moral lesson is clear: integrity and faith require us to trust in God’s providence, even when the path is difficult. Let us pray for the courage to remain faithful, like these prophets, and to trust that God will guide us through the challenges we face.