Daily Readings - Sat Aug 03 2024
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 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.