Blessed Are Those Who Hear the Whispers of the Lord

Prayer-Soldier

Blessed Are Those Who Hear the Whispers of the Lord

Scripture:

For I heard the reproaches of many, and terror on every side: Persecute him, and let us persecute him: from all the men that were my familiars, and continued at my side: if by any means he may be deceived, and we may prevail against him, and be revenged on him. But the Lord is with me as a strong warrior: therefore they that persecute me shall fall, and shall be weak: they shall be greatly confounded, because they have not understood the everlasting reproach, which never shall be effaced. And you, O Lord of hosts, prover of the just, who sees the reins and the heart: let me see, I beseech you, your vengeance on them: for to you I have laid open my cause. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord: because he has delivered the soul of the poor out of the hand of the wicked. (Jeremiah 20:10-13)

Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned. For until the law sin was in the world; but sin was not imputed, when the law was not. But death reigned from Adam unto Moses, even over them also who have not sinned after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come. But not as the offense, so also the gift. For if by the offense of one, many died; much more the grace of God, and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many. (Romans 5:12-15)

Therefore fear them not. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known. That which I tell you in the dark, speak in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach upon the housetops. And fear not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows. Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:26-33)

Reflection:

Jeremiah spoke the truth about the powerful and the false prophets. Jeremiah gave warning of the darkness which lay before them as they turned away from the ways of God and sought ways of their own making. He warned of the evil to come as they allowed their children to be sacrificed and as they worshiped false gods and idols. He warned them of ill ends as they sought to create their own morality and perversions of justice rather than do that which is truly right and just according to the commandments of God.

Jeremiah spoke of the woes which would come to those who sought ill-gotten gains. Jeremiah warned those who schemed to oppress and extort, but they did not listen. Rather than heeding the prophecy which Jeremiah spoke and asking the forgiveness of the Lord for their ways, they turned upon Jeremiah and persecuted him. Indeed, the unjust and false prophets flexed their arms of power against Jeremiah, but because they would not turn from their darkness, they fell to destruction.

We have seen this cycle play out again and again throughout the generations. Selfishness seduces and power corrupts. And now, what do we see play out in our own generation. We might think that over such expanses of time the people would learn, yet, the sins of the parents seem only to continue through the children. We might wonder, then, how can we ever hope to defeat evil which surrounds us?

Darkness and destruction are not the only ends to the story, for we have also seen what God does through the lowly and the faithful few. The blood of martyrs is not ignored by God. While we may lament the tragedy the unjust visits upon the just and the innocent, we must also trust in the day which will come where all shall be set right.

Jeremiah prophesied that as long as the people follow the ways of the Lord, prosperity would be theirs, but should they turn from Him, all which they might build shall fall to rubble. We might wonder, then, if all which surrounds us is sin and we ourselves are weak to sin, what hope might we have? If all who are conceived are destined to die, what could possibly be our encouragement? The answer is found in the One who was sent to wash away sin and cleanse souls of their iniquities.

If all we see is the injustice of the world, then, it is understandable that every soul might despair, but that is not the desire of God. He sent His only begotten Son so that we might have hope. He sent the Word made flesh so the faithful might learn and prepare for the day they are called to His kingdom. He sent the Prince of Peace so all might be taught the blessings we may share as we allow the justice of love to be our guide. Blessed are those who turn to the wisdom of the Lord. Blessed are those who speak what is true and just rather than what is popular in the darkness, for while they may face the pains of persecution within this world, the Son shall remember their words of love and faith and testify to the Father in Heaven.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we lack confidence in sharing the ways taught by our Lord?

In what ways do we give thanks for the One sent for our salvation?

In what ways may we help turn the ways of the world to the ways of God?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier