Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; Psalm 71; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30
Today we hear the Lord’s encouraging words to Jeremiah, “They will fight against you, but not prevail over you.” (Jeremiah 1:19a) The Lord sent Jeremiah as an ambassador to foreign nations and to preach a deeper faith to Israel. He would contend with civil authorities that endangered the people’s freedom and religious authorities that relied on external cult practices rather than a deeper faith-based in the heart. As predicted by God, Israel’s religious authorities reject him. However, in the end, Jeremiah is not delivered from his adversaries. Instead, he is taken to Egypt where he is murdered for his trouble. Was this a failure, did God forsake him? Was Jeremiah mistaken?
When Jesus arrives in his hometown his fellow Nazarites were amazed by his words and they spoke highly of him. But it wasn’t long before their amazement turned to anger. When this hometown son of Joseph would not work his ‘magic’ for their benefit their anger turns to hate. And when he explains that God’s love is for all people, not just his hometown or tribe, and not even for Israel alone. At this point, the hate in their hearts turns the townspeople in the synagogue into a mob looking for blood. Was this a failure, did God forsake him? Was Jesus mistaken?
How should we respond when we have done our best to do good, to live our faith by practicing charity, and people are unreasonable, reject our offers of help and are suspicious of our motives? At this point, we need to turn to Jesus for the example of how to respond when our best efforts are spurned. Jesus will spend his life of ministry in sharing the message of a loving and forgiving God. He will help, heal, and forgive others regardless of their class, allegiances, or ‘worthiness.’ Time and time again he will be rejected, because he reaches out to sinners, to those who lived outside of the Law, the ‘unclean,’ and the ‘unfit.’
When Jesus persisted with his positive message given him by his Father: To forgive others as we have been forgiven and to love others as God has loved us, he is accused of heresy. In the end, He was put to death for living His truth. He knew that it was best to die living one’s truth than to live a lie. This is what he calls everyone to do. All of us are children of God created in the image and likeness of God. We are called to live the truth without regard for our personal outcome. We can only do our best and let the chips fall where they may. Our efforts may fall short of our desires, but if our desire is to do our best with the gifts we have been given then this will please the Lord. We will make mistakes and there will be failures but we must not let that failure cause us to give up. We need to get up and do it again and help others who fail to get up and try again. And as St. Paul reminds us in our second reading, whatever you do, do it with love.
I will end with some wise words, often attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, but originally written by Dr. Kent M. Keith. This poem is called Anyway – The Paradoxical Commandments.
ANYWAY
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people will accuse you of
selfish, ulterior motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful,
you win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spent years building may be
destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY
People really need help
but may attack you if you help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have
And you’ll get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY.
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