LORD, IN YOUR GREAT LOVE ANSWER ME

June 25, 2023 – 12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062523.cfm)

Have you been so angry with a person that you imagine how you would take your revenge? You thirst for justice, you seek for vengeance because you were so hurt, insulted or humiliated. Yet, you are powerless. You feel desperate because there seemed to be no justice. There seemed to be no one to stand and fight with you.

Such was the feeling of Prophet Jeremiah. The first reading tells us about this kind of desperation. The prophet portrays to us a turbulent time in the City of Jerusalem because a powerful nation was about to invade them. Though there was a resistance to it but it was not enough. People were afraid.

Thus, the Book of Jeremiah confirms that there was terror all around! People were aware of it but many chose to whisper it only. They did not want to stand up and fight. As people, they were afraid of this powerful nation. It was too overwhelming for them. This was perhaps the reason why they only whispered about it.

This prophet among the people could not just stand and passively see it unfolding. Jeremiah stood up for them with all his might. However, at his back, his enemies were also plotting on how to bring him down. Even his friends betrayed him and wanted his destruction.

These were the situations surrounding the life of Prophet Jeremiah, that is why, we also find his prayer quite aggressive. Jeremiah prayed for revenge to be delivered by God. He prayed for the destruction of the enemies. Jeremiah prayed, “let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.” Indeed, this is a prayer born out of desperation and hunger for justice and freedom.

The same plea we can also find in today’s Psalm, “Lord, in your great love, answer me.” There is so much terror in life. So much fear and anxiety that has caused our life to be disturbed. This is the same feeling that we too might be are experiencing now especially as we face conflicts and problems in our life. Thus, the Psalm, is indeed, our prayer also.

In the midst of many threats in our life perpetrated by the those with wealth and in power, or by those who wished for our destruction and defamation, the words of Jeremiah in the first reading reechoes, “The Lord shall rescue the life of the poor from the power of the wicked.” This is hope, not an empty promise of God.

Moreover, in the Letter of Paul to the Romans, the apostle reminds us of the great grace, a gift from God that we have received. The gracious gift is Jesus. Through Jesus, grace overflows for the many. He light in the midst of darkness. He is grace in the midst of sin. He is hope in the midst of desperation.

Let that grace, then, to overflow from our heart to those in need. Let our devotion, our faith to overflow through our generous actions and words. The Gospel of Matthew speaks to us of this. “What I say to you in darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” Meaning, as God comes to rescue us in our difficulties, as God gives us enough grace as we face our own battles whatever that be, as God reveals his presence in our desperate moments – we are called to share them to others too. As we encounter God in those dark moments of our life, let us also bring God with us in the light.

Remember also, Jesus reminds us three times in the Gospel today not to be afraid. As we are called to translate our Christian faith in concrete ways, never hesitate and be afraid to stand up for what is right and just, to show your kindness to others and to express boldly your faith through your generosity to those in need. Hinaut pa.