Sunday Vigil

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Reading of the Word of God

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

Jeremiah 11,18-20

Yahweh informed me and I knew it; you then revealed their scheming to me. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, 'Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may no longer be remembered!' Yahweh Sabaoth, whose judgement is upright, tester of motives and thoughts, I shall see your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my cause to you.

 

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory


The prophet Jeremiah was called by God to call the people to return to the Lord when he was still young. The prophet does not speak for himself or from on high of his reflections. He interprets the condition of the people with God's gaze on history. His denunciation of Israel's guilt and the consequences of betraying the covenant are part of the preaching of the prophet which reveals to the prophet what he will have to say to the entire people. The prophet's words cause strong opposition. In reality this is what happens to all prophets. Jeremiah is hated by many because of his words. Oppressed by his own people, an innocent victim, the prophet compares himself to a meek lamb led to the slaughter; an image which is present in the fourth song of the suffering Servant (Is 53:7) and referred to the messiah who will also be persecuted. Even though he is prostrated by suffering, Jeremiah continues to present his case with confidence to the Lord. He knows that God is a fair judge who "tests the heart and mind." Through the example of Jeremiah, these words help us to understand what happens to Jesus. In him we see all the prophets of today and yesterday who-despite the opposition of the evil one-continue to witness love and preach peace, even at the cost of their own lives.