21 June 2026 #happyFathersDaytoo
In this ordinary-time circle-of-life season, we get a few of my favorite lines from the prophet Jeremiah: “I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce, let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. ‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail and take our vengeance on him.’ Why are these my favorites? Hang tight.
Here’s the back story: Good King Josiah, a loyal and faith-filled apprentice to the LORD, has just died in battle against the Egyptians, who have recently joined forces with the Babylonians. Jeremiah’s people are now in mourning… and there is intense political unrest and spiritual chaos. The unrest/chaos opens the door for Zedekiah to snatch the throne from worthier candidates. And like most men-who-want-to-be-king, Zedekiah surrounds himself with his cronies and uses power to furthers his own personal-interests. Interests, of course, which are contrary to the LORD’s. So, the LORD calls the humble Jeremiah to give Zedekiah and his right-hand priest, Pashur, a piece of the LORD’s mind. It does not go over well.
Jeremiah ends up locked in a public stockade in one of the most-traveled parts of Jerusalem. He’s not a happy camper, even if it is just a 24-hour hold. After his release, Jeremiah turns on his captors with a scathing prophecy: Zedekiah, Pashur, and his entire house (aka: everyone) will head into exile under the yoke of the cruel Babylonians! And that’s what you get for making my life miserable, so there.
Having told his captors off, Jeremiah turns to the LORD to give him a piece of his mind too. Yep. Jeremiah is pretty ticked off at LORD for making him a prophet and living the (troubled) prophet’s life. Jeremiah’s rant begins, “You seduced me Lord, and I let myself be seduced; you were too strong for me and you prevailed. All day long I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.”
And now we pick up with today’s first reading: Jeremiah reminds the LORD that he suffers cruelly at the hands of Zedekiah’s henchmen, proceeds to extoll the LORD’s virtues of judgement, asks to witness the LORD’s vengeance on his enemies, then ends with a song of praise. That sounds legit to me. The poor man has suffered sooo much humiliation.
Hard pause. Deep breath. Does this prayer pattern sound familiar to you? I don’t know about you, but Jeremiah’s pattern so often sounds like my own prayer, which is the reason I love this reading. I tell the Lord of my personal suffering because of my apprenticeship to Him, remind Him of his power to change the situation, want to be there when the very-public justice occurs, and close with a “Jesus, I trust in you.” Exactly what Jeremiah said. What am I thinking?!
Not about Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, that’s for sure. You see Jesus says to not be afraid of those who persecute us. Our is probably not a physical persecution, but it’s more likely a familial, professional, or social persecution. Fear causes us to not speak, not act, not mention the joy of the Lord in our circles of influence. That’s what Satan wants for the world.
Jesus wants us to love our neighbor, pray for our enemies, live virtuously, bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Then teach that life to others. If we’re honest, the strength, grace, and persistence to complete those tasks are the only prayer requests we should have. #HappyFathersDaytoo