The central theme of the readings this weekend is that we should have, and show in our communities, the courage of our Christian convictions in our Faith and in its practice.
The first reading tells us how God called Jeremiah as His prophet and gave him the material to face opposition and rejection. In doing this he encountered both rejection and persecution. The Psalm provides us with a prayer to help us in times of persecution together with a knowledge of our trust in God. In the second reading, we hear Paul speaking with the courage of his Christian convictions in correcting the Corinthian Christian community where the exercise of God’s gifts was causing competition, jealousy, and divisiveness. He presents them with a scheme which surpasses all others, namely, the way of love, and tells them that they must exercise their gifts with love.
Today’s Gospel shows us how Jesus faced doubts and criticism with the courage of the prophets. Jeremiah said:(1:4-5): “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; … I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” He went on to say:(1:17-19) “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them.” Like Jeremiah, Paul, and Jesus believed that they were commissioned by God to proclaim a prophetic message which in those days was disturbing to those who heard it. It is important to note that no matter how strong the opposition, they had the conviction that God was with them and we too must have the strength and courage that those three prophets had.