Theme: Let us imitate Jesus when we are misunderstood.
Scripture readings: Jer. 18:18-20; Ps. 30: 5-6, 14-16; Mt. 20:17-28
We find in the first reading, Jeremiah pleading before the Lord to heed him. He is feeling isolated and pushed to the corner. This is Prophet Jeremiah’s lamentation. The first one is seen in the earlier chapter (11. 21-23). The stubbornness of the people is more evident that they decided not to listen to Jeremiah. Who are they? The text is not clear but it could be concluded that there were group of false prophets or the people of Anathoth or the priests. Whoever they might be but they were threatened by Jeremiah’s preaching. Their self-interest, power and control was at stake. They want to attack him. They decided to do with their tongues. The tongue as a weapon used to slander and it is well known in the lament. It is used in the psalms (Ps. 64). In the later chapter, Jeremiah spelt out that they wanted to put charges against him in the court. (Jeremiah 26). They ultimately wanted to execute him. Jeremiah pleads before God to heed him because his own people have rejected him. Jeremiah portrays before God what good he had done for them. But they responded him with evil i.e. the plot against his life. So Jeremiah wants God to intervene and stop his enemies. The following verses tell us that Jeremiah cursed against the enemies. He called for complete destruction. (vv. 21-22). Later Jeremiah pleaded for mercy to God.
In the Gospel, we find Jesus predicting his passion and death to his disciples. This is a final prediction in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew is more precise to say that the execution of Jesus would be crucifixion. Jesus was well aware of his immediate future. Mathew also presents Jesus as the son of man who is the judge of the last day. We can say Jesus is well aware of enemies and their plotting just like Prophet Jeremiah. While Jesus is predicting about his suffering and death, the disciples are busy in thinking about themselves. The mother of James and John is concerned about her sons’ position when Jesus come in power. It was a similar situation that of Prophet Jeremiah. Mother of James and John using her tongue to seek favours that are not acceptable in a situation where Jesus was talking his death. It showed insensitivity towards Jesus and his difficulties. But unlike Jeremiah, Jesus happily accepts God’s plan of getting executed on the cross. Jesus did not curse his disciples or their mother but invited to drink the cup of suffering. The cup symbolised suffering, rejection, violent death, judgement and testing.
We too are often misunderstood by our own people. We know that people speak ill against us. We know they plot against us. How do we react to them? Do we imitate Prophet Jeremiah or Jesus? Let us pray that we may follow the example of Jesus in our lives that we may accept the sufferings, rejections, misunderstanding and testing as a plan of God to manifest his love.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
