Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Jeremiah 20:10-13

I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!

The Word of the Lord.

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Many of us can relate to Jeremiah, one of the great prophets of the Old Testament, who struggled in his journey paved by faith and service to God.

When he was first chosen to be a prophet, he was young and idealistic, crying out with delight, “When I read your words, I devoured them! They became my joy and the happiness of my heart!” 

Jeremiah was ready to save the world. 

I’m sure we’ve felt something similar before – an epiphany that God is alive and in touch; a prayer finally answered; a door pried open by grace, brightening our future.

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But some years into his ministry, Jeremiah complains to God, saying: “You duped me, O LORD!” 

This once young and idealistic prophet has run into a number of obstacles, most notably the hardened hearts of his friends who resist his message of repentance, and even plot to put him to death. 

“Let us denounce him!” they cry out in our first reading.

Jeremiah is heartbroken. 

But even in his darkest hour, he calls God his, “mighty champion.”

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Anyone who journeys with God will feel the highs and lows of faith, much like Jeremiah did. You may feel close to God on your wedding day, after giving birth to a child, or even having a small prayer answered.

Then you may feel distant from Him after losing a loved one, struggling through a lukewarm relationship, or having a hard day at work.

Today’s invitation is to remember that God is our “mighty champion,” the one who will never abandon us. 

As we proclaimed in the Responsorial Psalm today:

“In my distress, I called upon the LORD and he heard my voice.”

Jeremiah, prophet of the ages, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) CBCP News (2) Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, Rembrandt (3) Medium

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Genesis 17: 3-9

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:
“My covenant with you is this:
you are to become the father of a host of nations.
No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
I will render you exceedingly fertile;
I will make nations of you;
kings shall stem from you.
I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
I will give to you
and to your descendants after you
the land in which you are now staying,
the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;
and I will be their God.”

God also said to Abraham:
“On your part, you and your descendants after you
must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”

The Word of the Lord.

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Throughout scripture, God does what seems impossible, prompting us to believe that anything can happen – even in our own lives.

In our first reading, God promises Abraham that he will make him a father of nations, whose descendants shall be as numberless as the stars. 

What makes this promise so improbable is the fact that Abraham is already one-hundred years old…and his wife, Sara, is ninety and barren.

After God made this promise, Abraham literally broke out in laughter – likely as a sign of doubt… or, perhaps, inexpressible joy.

When their son was born, he was appropriately named Isaac – in Hebrew, Yishaq – meaning, “laughter.”

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Today, more than half the world – nearly four billion people – consider Abraham their father in faith. 

That’s four-billion proofs of a promise kept.

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Think of other promises God has made.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” Jesus says, “whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

Or, “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).

May we take the Lord at his word, trusting that he keeps his promises, waiting patiently until they are answered.

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Image credits: (1) Bible Baptist Church (2) Dale A. Brueggemann (3) Pinterest

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Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

King Nebuchadnezzar said:
“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you will not serve my god,
or worship the golden statue that I set up?
Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made,
whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
and all the other musical instruments;
otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace;
and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,
“There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you
in this matter.
If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
But even if he will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.”

King Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
and had some of the strongest men in his army
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”
“Assuredly, O king,” they answered.
“But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.” 
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.”

The Word of the Lord.

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Our first reading from the Book of Daniel seems strange. Almost magical. Miraculous.

Three men are thrown into a white-hot furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar because they will not worship false idols. They will only worship the God of Israel.

“There is no need for us to defend ourselves,” they say. “If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace, may he save us!”

And he does.

As the flames rage, an angel appears, comforting the three men, who are seen walking amidst the flames. Miraculously, God delivers his servants from death because of their faith.

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Sometimes life has a way of throwing all of us into the furnace. 

Not that literal, blazing hot oven these three men were once thrown into, but the figurative kind of furnace.

Think of those who wrestle with fear, anxiety, or mental illness. Others who feel like they’ve lost their path in life. Those who are worried about their health, their finances, their marriage, or their future.

Such experiences threaten to burn away our faith, hope, and peace.

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Remember the three men from our first reading who stood firmly in their faith, even when faced with the white-hot furnace. The Lord sent an angel to protect them. 

God will do the same for us when tested. We shall not be consumed nor tried beyond our strength, because, “We can do all things – even walk through fire – through Christ who strengthens us.”

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Image credits: (1) Holy Fire of the Holy Ghost, LinkedIn (2) I’ve Had an Epiphany!, Blogger (3) FaithPot