Jeremiah: A Companion for Turbulent Times and for those who remain single for God's sake
July 24, 2024 - Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10
Today, we begin our journey with the prophet Jeremiah, who is, in my view, the most tragic figure among all the prophets of Israel. Called to preach God's message at an early age—perhaps when he turned eighteen—Jeremiah shocked and angered his people. He was forbidden to marry, serving as a living prophecy of the future of Israel, like a dry tree that produces no fruit. His people considered him a traitor and collaborator with the Babylonian forces that were about to destroy Jerusalem and the temple.
Jeremiah lived in turbulent times for the nations. The two Eastern Empires—Assyria followed by Babylon—left a tragic mark on Israel. Before Jeremiah's birth, Assyria eradicated the northern kingdom of Israel, and before his death, he witnessed the destruction of the southern kingdom of Judah. Most of us would blame God for such a disaster. Jeremiah, however, saw its cause in Israel's disregard for the covenant with the Lord.
In his short introduction to the Book of Jeremiah, Eugene Peterson wrote, "Jeremiah's life and Jeremiah's book are a single piece. He wrote what he lived, he lived what he wrote" (see "The Message"). A similar comment is found in the introduction to Jeremiah by Robert Alter: "Of all the prophets, Jeremiah is the one who conveys to us the most vivid sense of the man behind the words" (see "The Hebrew Bible").
The book begins with Jeremiah's prophetic call: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you" (Jer. 1:5). Like Moses, Jeremiah did not feel qualified for a prophetic vocation: he was too young and not skilled in public speaking. But the Lord overruled his hesitation and, like in the case of Isaiah, gifted him with oratorical skills unmatched by his opponents.
The message that Jeremiah would deliver in the name of the Lord did not concern Judah alone. Like Amos, his message would affect "nations and kingdoms" (Jer. 1:10; see Jer. 46-51). However, Jeremiah's main concern was an effort to save his nation. He employed different means—threats, pleading, symbolic gestures, and actions—to call his people to repentance. The tragedy could have been avoided. God, like any parent, does not delight in punishment (see Ezekiel 18:23) and would forgive the sins of His people if only they showed signs of repentance. Jeremiah's failure brings to mind Jesus' tears over Jerusalem, a city of peace that did not want to know "the things that make for peace" (see Luke 19:41-44).
Six verbs characterize Jeremiah's mission: "To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant" (Jer. 1:10). Four pertain to uprooting, and two to renewal. This is a perfect description of the content of this book. For most of his prophetic life, Jeremiah had to chastise his beloved people and speak about the incoming disaster. However, there is also a portion of his message that looks to a bright future for God's people. No matter how harsh the punishment of the Lord might be, His commitment to His people remains steadfast, and His plan of salvation shall overcome all obstacles.
Eugene Peterson wrote that Jeremiah can be a companion for those who live through turbulent times. He can teach us to face adversity and remain faithful to the Lord even when the world is against us. He can also be an inspiration for those who choose celibacy for the sake of the Gospel. He can remind them of its symbolic meaning, its radical commitment to the Lord, and the deep intimacy with the Lord that it affords.