22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Sunday, September 03, 2023
The prophet Jeremiah was born around 652-648 BC into a priestly family in the village of Anathoth, two and a half miles northeast of Jerusalem. He was called by God to prophetic ministry when he was a very young man. Jeremiah lived during the period of Judah’s decline, a time that included the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. He faced opposition from kings, priests, and the people. He experienced personal hardships, persecution, and imprisonment. Jeremiah’s prophecies contained messages of judgment and warnings to the people of Judah and Jerusalem to turn back to God.
Scholars named Jeremiah “the weeping prophet” because of the hardships he encountered, and for grieving over the wickedness of his people and their looming judgment. In today’s Old Testament reading we can see how disappointed he felt due to decades of ministry without visible positive outcomes: “I say I will not mention him, I will no longer speak in his name. But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot!” (Jeremiah 20:9)
Jeremiah felt dejected and almost quit his ministry.
In the Gospel we read about Jesus preparing His disciples for His persecution, death, and resurrection. Peter is quick to reject this announcement: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22). In only five short verses after Jesus called Peter the rock that He built His church upon, He rebukes Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.” (Matthew 16:23).
Peter’s reaction is like Jeremiah’s before him. Both vehemently rejected God’s will. Has there been a time when you felt dejected and unhappy with God? A time of illness, grief, or traumatic experience? A time of financial or personal loss?
God’s wisdom is at times different than human wisdom. “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16:23). Paul offers us instructions and hope in today’s second reading: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2).
Let us with confidence and faith trust in God’s will. Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I, Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.