Readings:
Jeremiah 11: 18-20
John 7:40-52
Reflection:
During our Lenten journey, our readings continue to relate to how the religious leaders were starting to plot against Jesus. There is a sense that things are approaching a critical point, or, as John relates, the “Hour of Glory,” culminating in Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Listening to Jeremiah, there is a sense that in some way he is a prefigurement of Jesus. Jeremiah finds himself in a situation where those opposed to his teachings plot against him, just as we will hear in the coming weeks that this is happening to Jesus.
Pausing for a moment to open ourselves and dip our toe into the same situation, if we learnt there was a plot against our life by our own neighbours and friends, what would this feel like?
It is overwhelming to even contemplate such a reality! Each Easter as we enter into Jesus journey through Scripture, with our community, friends and those who share faith, I find it a very intimate and heart pulling week where questions arise of how, why, who could bear witness, why. This is simply listening, allowing the words to soak into me, words expressed over 2000 years ago.
For those of you who you walk with, love, share meals, conversations, your stories and truth. Those who you lean into at times of challenge, or needing affirmation or companionship. Imagine these very people, turning away, dismissing and refusing to support you. As we see with Jesus and Jeremiah if one started to feel, if one changed to conform to the wider societal perceptions of what is true and right then the plot may be dropped. Yet what a cost that is, especially if you are simply living into who you are created to be, or as Jeremiah expressed, “it was the Lord who made it known to me” In other words, Jeremiah was simply responding to his life call.
Sad thing is, especially in recent global news, this is not something that only Jeremiah or Jesus experienced many years ago, today many individuals experience in different situations the same journey – a plot resulting in death. Often, political motivation, governance, and economic situations are at the core, not to mention pure human drives like jealousy, control, and power, to name a few.
Let us pray for anyone finding themselves in this situation where they are living their truth, living their calling and being marginalised or punished in any form. May they have strength to respond like Jeremiah, by presenting themselves before God, handing over their whole selves. The invitation today is a gentle one, a powerful one, and one that Jesus always lived, taught and remind us even on responding to the plot of his death – that is to stand before God, lay aside our human attachments like pride and commit ourselves to God for He is our protector always.
Sr Karen Englebretsen CP, Cross and Passion Sisters. blessed to be a spiritual care worker in the homeless sector in Melbourne.