Daily Readings - Sat Aug 01 2020
Jeremiah
11Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.12Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.13Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.14As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.15But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.16Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.24Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Matthew
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.6But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.11And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.12And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and 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.