I knew it because the Lord informed me: at that time you showed me their doings. – Jeremiah 11:18

My former manager set me up with a meeting with the regional manager (RM) of another insurance company where he planned to transfer. What I thought was an informal query on my part turned out to be a nightmare of an interview.

       The RM battered me with questions related to my previous work experience as an agent of another insurance company. Since that was years ago, it was hard for me to recall every little detail. She insulted me for being unsure with some of my answers. She hurled other insults and even negatively commented about my attire.

       After praying about my decision, I decided not to push through with the training. Their company might be the best in the country, so they claim, but I prefer to work for a business where people are treated with respect. My former manager later decided to stick with his present company because of negotiation problems with the RM.

       God revealed to Jeremiah the people’s plot to kill him. In the same way, God showed me what stuff the RM was made of before I could even start with the company. When we are unjustly wronged, let us surrender our case to the Lord and He will avenge our situation. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

You, O Lord, are my refuge and strength, my help in times of trouble.

St. Vincent Ferrer, priest, pray for us.

Revenge is never justified, no matter how grievous the original harm may have been. Jeremiah suffered a lot for being a prophet and telling men in high places that they were sinners and needed to repent. However, he never seeks to take revenge for all that he suffered from them. He leaves it to God to do the judging. It is wise for us to do the same.

18 I knew their plot because the Lord informed me; at that time you, O Lord, showed me their doings. 19 Yet, I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: “Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.” 20 But you, O Lord of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!

R: O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

1 [2] O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, 2 [3] lest I become like the lion’s prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me. (R) 8 [9] Do me justice, O Lord, because I am just, and because of the innocence that is mine. 9 [10] Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but sustain the just, O searcher of heart and soul, O just God. (R) 10 [11] A shield before me is God, who saves the upright of heart; 11 [12] a just judge is God, a God who punishes day by day. (R)

We hear that there are some people who want to arrest Jesus. Why? It seems that some of the things that Jesus was saying were considered blasphemous, as they discussed whether or not it was possible for the Messiah to come from Galilee. It seems that they were not aware that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Even if they wanted to arrest Him, they were also interested in what He had to say, and so they did not do so.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

40 Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” 47 So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, 51 “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” 52 They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 53 Then each went to his own house.

think:  Revenge is never justified, no matter how grievous the original harm may have been.

SENSUS FIDELIUM

The Gospel story shows how nauseating the arrogance of the priests and the Pharisees was. They seemed convinced that only they were learned enough to discern the truth of divine inspiration. With a haughty air of disdain, these Jewish authorities remarked about the ordinary Jews who believed in Jesus: “But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”

       In truth, the workings of God’s Spirit may be more alive in the hearts and minds of the simple folks. Their spontaneity and transparency, their openness and vulnerability, their unassuming ways and indifference to power, their natural goodness and religiosity, and their innate compassion and goodwill often make ordinary men and women more receptive and attuned to God.

       The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, in fact, reflected and stated: “The entire body of the faithful, anointed as they are by the Holy One, cannot err in matters of belief. They manifest this special property by means of the whole people’s supernatural discernment in matters of faith when ‘from the Bishops down to the last of the lay faithful’ they show universal agreement in matters of faith and morals. That discernment in matters of faith is aroused and sustained by the Spirit of truth. It is exercised under the guidance of the sacred teaching authority, in faithful and respectful obedience to which the people of God accepts that which is not just the word of men but truly the word of God” (Lumen Gentium #12).

       God does not only work in the person of the anointed and appointed leaders. He also works in the common sense of faith of the entire people! Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you a leader who is willing to listen and learn? Recall an incident when you experienced God’s Spirit working more in the inspirations, initiatives and impulses of the congregation of ordinary people in your community or in your parish.

Lord, grant me a listening and humble heart that I may hear You through ordinary people.