SATURDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Jer 11: 18-20 Ps 7: 2-3, 9-12 Jn 7: 40-53
THE COST OF PROPHETIC WITNESSING
In a world quick to dismiss inconvenient truths, the voices of Jeremiah and Jesus remind us that bearing God’s message often comes at a cost. Jeremiah, described as a “gentle lamb led to slaughter,” faced a deadly conspiracy for speaking divine warnings to a people entrenched in sin. Similarly, Jesus confronts a storm of scepticism. Some in the crowd wonder if He is the Messiah, while others scoff at his origins. The religious leaders, threatened by His authority, mock both Jesus and Nicodemus, the lone Pharisee who dares to question them. Thus, both passages shed light upon the cost of prophetic witnessing: those who speak for God often face rejection, even persecution. Jeremiah’s opponents sought to silence him; Jesus’ critics tried to discredit Him in the name of tradition. Yet, their experiences also expose the fragility of human power. Jeremiah trusts God to take care of Him – “I have committed my cause to You” – and Jesus, though rejected, remains undeterred in His mission.
What does this mean for us? First, faithfulness to God’s truth requires courage. Like Nicodemus, we are called to question the assumptions of our age, even when it risks ridicule. Second, rejection is not defeat. Jeremiah and Jesus were vindicated by God’s ultimate justice; the cross and resurrection remind us that love triumphs over fear. Finally, humility anchors us. The Pharisees’ pride blinded them, but Jesus’ teachings inverted worldly logic: true greatness lies in service, not status.
Today, God still calls us to stand for justice, mercy, and truth, whether in defending the marginalized, challenging corrupt systems, or simply living with integrity in a culture of compromise. Let us pray for the courage to speak, the humility to listen, and the faith to trust that, in the end, light overcomes darkness. May we, like Jeremiah and Nicodemus, choose faithfulness over fear, knowing that God is a just judge.
Response: O Lord, my God, I take refuge in you.
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