First Reading (Jeremiah 11,18-20)
Reading of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.
Lord, you warned me and I understood; you made me aware of their intrigues. I was like a gentle lamb led to sacrifice, and I didn’t know that they were plotting against me: “Let’s cut down the tree in all its strength, eliminate it from the world of the living, so that its name will no longer be remembered.” And you, Lord of hosts, who judge with justice and search the affections of the heart, grant that I may see the vengeance that you will take against them, for I have entrusted my cause to you.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 7,40-53)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, upon hearing Jesus’ words, some people in the crowd said: “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” But some objected: “Will the Messiah come from Galilee? Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah will be of the descendants of David and will come from Bethlehem, the town where David was from?” Thus, there was division among the people because of Jesus. Some wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the Temple guards returned to the high priests and the Pharisees, and they asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him?” The guards responded, “No one ever spoke like this man.” Then the Pharisees said to them, “Are you also deceived? Did any of the leaders or Pharisees believe him? But these people who do not know the Law are cursed!” But Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, the one who had met Jesus before, said: “Does our Law judge anyone before it hears him and knows what he has done?” They replied: “Are you also a Galilean, perhaps? Go study and you will see that no prophet emerges from Galilee.” And each one returned to his home.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Put yourself for a moment in the shoes of the prophet Jeremiah. Imagine receiving the devastating news that people you know, perhaps even considered friends, are plotting against your life. “The Lord made known to me, and I knew; you showed me his works,” laments Jeremiah in our first reading. What deep pain he must have felt! Not just the physical threat, but the emotional betrayal, the breach of trust.
Jeremiah compares himself to a “meek lamb led to the slaughter.” What a powerful and foreshadowing image! We cannot help but see here a prefiguration of Christ, the Lamb of God, who centuries later would face his own betrayal and willingly walk towards his sacrificial death.
Jeremiah’s situation reveals an uncomfortable truth about the prophetic calling: those who speak God’s truth often face opposition, rejection, and even persecution. Jeremiah’s message was one of repentance, an urgent call for the people of Judah to turn from their sinful ways and return to the Lord. But people didn’t want to listen. They would rather silence the messenger than heed the message.
This reality finds a profound echo in our Gospel today. Jesus, the greatest of all prophets, also faces division and rejection. While some recognize him as the promised Messiah, saying “This is truly the prophet” or “This is the Christ”, others question his origin: “Does the Christ come from Galilee?”
It is fascinating to observe how people were looking for reasons to reject Jesus. They had a preconceived idea of what the Messiah should be like and where he should come from. When Jesus didn’t fit that mold perfectly, they rejected him, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of his teachings and miracles.
We see a deeply human tendency here: when faced with a truth that challenges our assumptions and makes us uncomfortable, we often look for ways to discredit the message or the messenger. It is easier to find flaws in Jesus’ genealogy than to allow his words to transform our lives.
But in the midst of this rejection, there is a voice of reason. Nicodemus, that same Pharisee who had previously visited Jesus at night, asks a simple but profound question: “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him and knowing what he does?” He is appealing to a basic principle of justice: let us not judge without first listening, let us not condemn without first understanding.
The other Pharisees, however, quickly dismiss Nicodemus’s intervention with a dismissive question: “Are you also from Galilee?” They are using the association with Galilee – a region considered culturally inferior – as a way to discredit not only Jesus, but anyone who dared to defend him. It’s a tactic we still see today: attacking the person instead of facing the argument.
This dialogue reveals a lot to us about the nature of prejudice and how it can blind even religious and educated people. The Pharisees were experts in the law, dedicating their lives to studying the Scriptures. However, their pride and prejudice prevented them from recognizing the very Messiah these Scriptures promised.
What can we learn from these readings for our lives today?
First, like Jeremiah, we are called to speak the truth, even when it is unpopular. We live in a culture that often rejects absolute truths and fundamental Christian values. Defending the dignity of human life, the sanctity of marriage, the preferential option for the poor – these positions will not always be well received. We may face ridicule, social isolation or even persecution. But as disciples of Christ, we are called to be a prophetic voice in our time.
Second, like Nicodemus, we are called to be willing to question our own tribe when necessary. It is easy to remain silent when our group – whether political, social or religious – is acting unjustly. It’s more comfortable to “follow the crowd.” But moral courage requires that we sometimes stand up alone, that we speak the truth within our own circles.
Third, we need to be vigilant against prejudice in our own hearts. How many times do we reject an idea simply because of its source? How many times do we refuse to listen to someone because they come from a different “background” or belong to a group “opposite” to us? The Pharisees rejected Jesus because of his supposed Galilean origin. Who are we rejecting for equally superficial reasons?
Finally, these readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to the person of Jesus Christ. Just as in the crowds of Jerusalem, there is division today over who Jesus really is. Some see him as just a great moral teacher. Others as a political revolutionary. Still others as a mythical figure exaggerated by tradition.
But the question Jesus asked his disciples echoes down the centuries to us: “But who do you say that I am?” Our answer to this question is not just a matter of theological belief; it is a question that fundamentally shapes how we live our lives.
If Jesus is truly “the Christ,” the Son of God, the promised Savior, then we cannot remain neutral or indifferent. We are called to a response, a decision, a commitment.
Jeremiah, in the midst of persecution, entrusted his cause to the Lord: “I have committed my cause to you, Lord of hosts.” Ultimately, this is our source of comfort and strength as well. Just like Jeremiah, just like Jesus himself, we will face opposition in this world. But we can trust that God sees, that God knows, that God judges justly.
And just as the Father vindicated Jesus, raising Him from the dead and exalting Him above every name, we can trust that God will also vindicate those who remain faithful to Him.
May we, then, have the courage of Jeremiah to speak the truth, even when it is costly. May we have the integrity of Nicodemus to question injustice, even within our own groups. And above all, may we recognize Jesus as truly “the Christ”, the promised Messiah, and order our lives according to this profound truth.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
