PREACHERS OF HOPE

XXX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Jer 31:7-9

Jeremiah by Michelangelo

Jeremiah’s call

As a prophet, Jeremiah had not an easy life. He heard God’s call while still very young. He dedicated himself wholeheartedly to carry out God’s work. As time passed, he realised that he was acting like a prophet of doom, announcing punishment and destruction, and all people of influence were rejecting and persecuting him.

Jeremiah’s political acumen

Being a prophet of God and a citizen of Judah, he was aware of the political forces at work, during his life time, and he was able to read accurately the political situation. That put him in conflict with the ruling elite. Jeremiah understood that, under king Nebuchadnezzar, Babylonia was the dominant force in the Middle East and that the survival of Judah with a certain degree of autonomy depended on accepting Nebuchadnezzar’s suzerainty. The king of Judah and his court preferred to play Babylonia against Egypt, hoping to guard their independence by doing so. They were blind to the reality and all efforts of Jeremiah to bring them to their senses was in vain.

Jeremiah denounced the betrayal of the covenant

As a prophet, Jeremiah denounced his people betrayal of the covenant, their idolatry and the structural injustices against the poor committed by the state. They would not listen and they would not convert, no matter how harsh and threatening Jeremiah’s message might have been. Deaf to God’s word, they lacked wisdom (even political wisdom) to read the situation and to see the need for change. They took it for granted that YHWH (the LORD) was their God, and that he would never desert them, because his temple was in Jerusalem and there they were offering daily sacrifices to him. Jeremiah called foolishness that false sense of security and announced that the temple would be destroyed. 

Jeremiah complained to God for the role he had to play in denouncing a government that engaged itself in policies of self-destruction, instead of turning back to God and putting all their trust in him.

A message of hope

However, as catastrophe was approaching, Jeremiah became a prophet of hope, announcing that it would be followed by a bright future, brought about by God’s love and mercy:

“The Lord says this:

Shout with joy for Jacob!

Hail the chief of nations!

Proclaim! Praise! Shout:

‘The Lord has saved his people,

the remnant of Israel!”

“They had left in tears,

I will comfort them as I lead them back;

I will guide them to streams of water,

by a smooth path where they will not stumble.”

The Church proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is to say that she proclaims the Good News, bringing hope to the sorrowful hearts of people. From the Bible we learn that God’s last word is not is not a word of curse and condemnation, but a word of salvation and life.