Please read this passage before reading this homily.
You are (1) harassed by those who do not like your message and (2) you are not praising the people for all their good points. A prophet who announces peace is only recognized as a prophet when the promised peace happens; a prophet who announces the need for conversion or who threatens disaster is recognized as prophet by the mere fact of the message. Prophets are persecuted. You must be prophets.
Jeremiah the prophet is the prophet most described as being like Jesus in the negative reception his preaching received. As we near the time of year when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have the words and life of Jeremiah to reflect on.
Jeremiah felt compelled to preach the word of God. Even when he did not want to preach it, he felt that he had to proclaim it. Jeremiah felt that God was being very insistent with him, overpowering him.
Jesus, on the other hand, also had an innate urgency for preaching God’s word. He, himself, was the word of God, and he had to speak himself.
In today’s reading, Jeremiah recounted how his adversaries were plotting against him and laying traps to catch him in his speech. He is able, however, to see that the Lord was still present to him and that he could praise the Lord despite the harassment.
We have inherited Jeremiah’s position. I hope that in your preaching and living the Word of God you have the energy and grace to continue despite negative reactions. Sing to the Lord and praise him despite all difficulties.