By Shiju Joseph csc –
Readings: Jer 26:1-9; Mt 13: 54-58
Both Jeremiah and Jesus today experience rejection from their own people. Everyone loves a prophet who foretells good fortune, takes care of physical needs and remain harmless.
As long as the prophet lets people live the way they want, he is a good prophet. What made Jeremiah and Jesus unacceptable is familiarity and criticism. How can a prophet be someone from among us and at the same time call into question our lifestyle? How can someone whom I know very well criticize the choices I make, and predict bad things for me?
A prophet, therefore, can be least effective among his own people. The number of times I have brushed aside a companion’s suggestion to improve myself would be numerous. ‘Who does he think he is?’ and ‘I know you well ’are the first responses to a feedback from a familiar figure, especially when it is not packaged well. Have I begun expecting my friends and family members to support me regardless of my behavior? Do I give my friends and family enough freedom to point out the areas where I continuously come up short in my relationship with God and others? Have I rejected Christ’s feedback to me, because he was all too familiar to me?