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22.03.2024 — Confident Prophet

Posted under Reflections on March 22nd, 2024 by

5th week in Lent, Friday – 22nd March 2024 – Jeremiah 20,10-13; Jn 10,31-42

Confident Prophet

Unique among the prophets, Jeremiah shares not only his message, but also details of his experience as a messenger. He senses mounting opposition against him and his proclamation of God’s Word. The prophet is attacked and denounced on all sides by his own people and friends and his struggles are displayed for all to see. Hiding from neither God, himself, nor friends, Jeremiah refuses to be silenced by anyone who would rather turn away, by anyone who would prefer to reject him and tune out his message. But Jeremiah has confidence in his God and believes firmly that his attackers will not prevail: “The Lord is at my side… my opponents will stumble, mastered and confounded by their failure.” He is a confident prophet, who believes in his God of justice and truth, a God who is on the side of the needy and oppressed. Jeremiah knew that truth and justice will triumph ultimately, no matter how profound the human trails may be. His total trust and dependence on God made him not to be afraid of those who merely kill his body.

20.03.2024 — Being Firm in Faith

Posted under Reflections on March 20th, 2024 by

5th week in Lent, Wednesday – 20th March 2024 – Daniel 3,14-20.24-25.28; Jn 8,31-42

Being Firm in Faith

Today’s first reading helps us to give primacy to God in everything, pushing all else to secondary place. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had built a golden statue and commanded all his subjects to bow down as a test of loyalty. Three young Jewish men – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – were in the service of the royal court, and were favourites of the king for their outstanding qualities, refused to worship the statue. They preferred death rather than turn their back on their God. The king threatens to throw them into a white-hot furnace. The young men calmly reply that either their God will save them, because he can, even if he does not, they will still remain steadfast in their trust of God. Angry king threw them into a seven times hot furnace. Later, when the king makes enquiries and finds that along with the three young men, a fourth person (an angel) was walking around unharmed in the fire. The pagan king was deeply moved by what he saw. First, he was filled with the admiration and praise for the God that delivered them from burning death. Second, he deeply respected the young men who disobeyed him and were ready to sacrifice their lives, rather than turn their back on their God. Linking this reading to the Gospel, in which Jesus speaks of those who are truly descendants of Abraham. If those attacking him were true descendants, then they would recognize Jesus as truly the Son of God. As it is, they show they are not true descendants. What a contrast – pagan king believed in God, privileged Israelites didn’t believe in Jesus.

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