Daily Readings - Sat Aug 01 2020
Jeremiah
11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, "This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!"12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard.13Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.14As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.15Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."24Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Matthew
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her."5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted10and had John beheaded in the prison.11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then 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.