Both of the readings for Mass today depict the disrespect and disbelief shown to the prophet Jeremiah and Jesus in their hometown, among their own people, with those who knew them best. God sent them both. That was the truth, but the religious community that they belonged to did not believe them. When Jesus taught in the synagogue, everyone started questioning where he had obtained the wisdom and power to do such mighty deeds. They all knew him and his family well, he was no different from them. When they took offense at him, Jesus said:
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” ~ Mt 13: 57
This is something many of us should be able to relate to. Envy, or jealousy, is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. There’s no wonder why. Just look at today’s first reading for mass when the townspeople laid hands on the prophet Jeremiah, telling him that, “you must be put to death.” There are so many people who have been killed out of jealousy throughout the ages, beginning with Abel in the book of Genesis.
Jealousy can rear it’s ugly head over anything, even in the spiritual life or the Catholic community. Many of the saints experienced the envy of their peers, especially in cloisters and monasteries, because they were also well known by their peers. Saint Padre Pio and Saint Faustina are two modern examples of this.
People aren’t usually aware that they are having feelings of jealousy though, because their attention is focused outward on the person they are envious of. They want what that person has, whatever it might be. The person their envy is directed toward is no better than them. Sometimes people will cut another person down, or discredit them in some way, in order to feel better about themselves. Envious people will try to bring you down to their level if they can. To notice this is not prideful or conceited, or overly negative, it is just a fact of life.
Notice how Jesus handled it though. The gospel said that, “he did not work many mighty deeds there.” This is excellent advise for us, if we ever experience another person who is jealous or envious of us. We should minimize or eliminate the behavior they are jealous of when we are in their presence. In other words, completely downplay the matter when they are around. Don’t mention your new achievement at work or school, or the new person you are dating, your new promotion, new car, home, diploma or degree, or what you learned during a lengthy or expensive retreat that others might have difficulty affording. That really does help to diffuse the situation and put the other person more on your level, if you refrain from talking about things that others might be envious of.
All truly great people learn to put themselves on the level of the people they are with, no matter what their position, talents, education, degree of holiness or achievement is. The more advanced in holiness a person is, the more they downplay their personal achievements and relate more to others on their level. That is exactly what Jesus did in the gospel. He didn’t perform the mighty deeds that they took offense at, while in their presence.
There is so much to be gleaned from the readings for Mass today, but maybe we could wrap up this reflection with a thought about the prophet Jeremiah. He was just God’s messenger. Have you ever heard the expression, “don’t kill the messenger?” Jeremiah was just conveying the truth, that God wanted him to speak to the people. They got so mad at him they wanted to kill him. Jesus also spoke the truth and they did kill him. We can expect no less resistance to the truth, when we must tell it to others.
Hopefully, we will not be killed for speaking the truth, but sometimes the truth must be spoken irregardless as to the resistance that we face. To remain silent is to participate in evil. There is a quote that, “All it takes for evil to exist is for good men to do nothing.” And there is much truth to this. Jesus, the prophet Jeremiah and many other prophets, the martyrs and the saints all realized this. Jesus didn’t come to earth for peace, but division. Jesus explains this spiritual reality in the beatitudes:
“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.”
So, the next time others oppose you for speaking the truth, it might actually not be a bad thing. You are following in the footsteps of Jesus, the Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs and the Saints.
Daily Mass Readings: Jer 26: 1-9 / Ps 69 / Mt 13: 54-58
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Note to our readers: Dr. Carolyn Berghuis is taking a short sabatical to finish a research paper on the church mystics, but please be assured she is continuing to pray for the Global Light for Christ Community, and your intentions during this time.
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