Homily Seventeenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Jeremiah 14:17-22) “Jesus Wept”
Homily Seventeenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Jeremiah 14:17-22) “Jesus Wept”
Prophets have a very difficult vocation. And it is a sad vocation most of the time. Jeremiah shed many a tear over Jerusalem due to the fact that it was slowly being destroyed. He reflects on a famine that is happening in the land. Is it happening because the city is paying tribute to the Babylonians or some other foreign power? That is at least part of the problem that has led to the people’s misery.
Jeremiah’s tears over Jerusalem remind us of Jesus weeping over the same city in Matthew 23:37-39. Jesus can see the difficult times ahead when the Romans will conquer the city and level it. Not one stone was left upon another.
The Jewish people went into diaspora for many centuries and they only returned in the 20th Century. This experience was a difficult one for the Jews. Throughout the years they have suffered persecution and genocide. Did Jesus see all that as he looked down at Jerusalem?
Jeremiah and Jesus tried to warn the people of the calamities that lay ahead, but they weren’t listened to. Both men suffered arrest, physical punishment, and humiliation. In Jesus’ case, he was put to death.
Their stories remind us that most of us do not like to be confronted with our sins and called to conversion. As Christians we realize, however, that ongoing conversion is a part of our lives. We are never going to be perfect in this life. Our spiritual quest is to try to grow in virtue every day. The thing that reassures us is that God loves us despite our faults.
Jesus and Jeremiah always reminded those they preached to that things would get bad because of the immorality of many, but that God will never stop loving us. We are sons and daughters of a benevolent heavenly parent. And that gives us hope.
Reflection Questions:
1. Who are the prophets among us? Do we see some modern-day prophets in the crisis we face in our society now?
2. Do I believe in ongoing conversion? How have I changed for the better in the last few months?
Dear Parishioners,
I would like to remind people that Fr. Matthew and I cannot go to anoint people in hospitals and nursing homes unless we are requested. Things have tightened up again due to the rising cases of COVID 19 in our area.
If you would like to be anointed at home or in an institution, please contact our office and we will be glad to come to you wherever you are. We just must take the necessary precautions and you must tell the hospital or nursing home that you want us to come.
Shut-ins have asked if lay ministers can come to them. I am reluctant to have ministers go out yet. I do not want to put anyone at risk. Let’s pray that communion calls can resume soon.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark