16 March, Saturday — A lesson in subscribing to, and not prescribing God’s ways

Saturday of the 4^th Week of Lent

Jer 11:18 -20
Jn 7:40-52

‘…for I have committed my cause to you.’

Today’s first reading focuses on the lament of Jeremiah. It starts with Jeremiah’s predicament. The Lord has warned Jeremiah of the plot by the men of Anathoth, the people of his hometown which is a city mainly inhabited by priestly families, to kill him. They are angered because of Jeremiah’s harsh words of judgment from God.

Instead of being a self-absorbed prayer of discontent, after Jeremiah recognises the harm the people are scheming to inflict on him, he immediately shifts to trusting in the Lord. He commits his cause to the Lord. This is no easy task in such adversity. Jeremiah’s enemies want to take him out in his prime years — “a tree in its strength”. Further, he does not prescribe what God is to do in response to the people who plot to kill him. He commits his cause and subscribes to God’s “just sentence”.

When I reflected on this reading, I could not help but draw a parallel between Jeremiah’s plight and what Jesus comes to experience — the plot by his own people to kill him, his lament to God, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”, and his shift to trustful surrender in calling out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hand I commend my spirit.”

Over the past few weeks of Lent, we may have experienced troubling times due to various factors: family, work, health etc. We may have been distressed over what to do and how to respond. Jeremiah’s lament, which parallels what we will witness Jesus do on Good Friday, teaches us to turn to the Lord and commit our cause to God.

God will not permit any troubles to come upon us unless He has a plan for good to come out of such troubles. May we, in our laments, subscribe to, and not prescribe God’s ways in addressing our causes. As Romans 8:28 reads, “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose”.

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength to stay on the course that you have set before me. Help me to commit my cause to you, especially in times of adversity.

Thanksgiving: God, I thank you for working everything out for my good, even when I do not understand what is happening, or why.