Most of us, if not all, have been Baptized. Of course, we know the Baptized are connected to God’s family, that they’re children of God, called to inherit the Kingdom. That’s the answer Baptism gives to who we are. But, over the next few weeks, we’re reflecting on the practical difference Baptism makes, on the job Baptism gives to disciples; in short, the Baptized are priests, prophets and kings.
It all goes back to Adam and Eve. Before the fall, before saying, “no”, to God, like us, the first couple were children of God, but they were also prophets. Being made in the image and likeness of God, all they said and did revealed what God’s like, where he’s to be found and what he wants. Adam and Eve were a clear reflection of God at least until they said, “no”, to his plan.
Ever since that divide, sin, appeared between God’s people and the source of life, fear has been a problem and it was the experience of being full of fear, that led Adam and Eve to cover themselves, to obscure the image of God within. Fear prevented the first couple from being effective prophets. So long as fear has filled God’s people, there’s been much confusion, even outright conflicts, about God. We need prophets who are free of fear.
God didn’t make us for fear though; he made us to be prophets, and Baptism is the first step God takes in restoring the role of prophet so, once again, the life, words and actions of each person can reveal God’s presence and message. It’s a huge challenge, though, because God’s Good News isn’t always welcome. We’ve all felt the discomfort; we’ve all experienced moments when the call to publicly practice or profess faith has left us feeling full of fear.
We’re in good company though. Today’s First Reading comes from one of the major prophets, the prophet Jeremiah, whose message was very unwelcome during his life. At God’s prompting, the prophet declared that the people of Judah would be conquered if they didn’t change their ways; no one wanted to hear that. Then, while the city was under siege, surrounded by enemy forces, Jeremiah encouraged surrender. Despite following God’s will precisely, doing the best he could, no one listened. Many, including the king, tried to eliminate him; even the temple priests had Jeremiah arrested and violently mistreated.
We can imagine the fears Jeremiah may have had: He was abandoned by everyone, his life was in danger and despite proclaiming God’s word and doing God’s work, no one listened. Aware of his situation, the prophet wrote, “…All my close friends are watching for me to stumble.”[i] We may not fear for our lives in the same way, but it’s still easy to imagine the fears of Jeremiah, the discomfort of isolation and rejection.
There is a difference between feeling fear and being full of fear. In this life, feeling fear can be good; it’s what reminds us to lock the door at night or to turn off the oven. “Fear of the Lord”, is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit urging disciples to put God first. I’m sure Jeremiah felt fear. Being full of fear is different though; it’s paralyzing, holds prophets back and makes it difficult to trust God.
We each have our own fears and maybe some here are full of fear: paralyzed by fear, holding back or in some way covering themselves, obscuring the image of God within. Jeremiah gives a good example of what to do. While acknowledging his situation, the prophet also observed, “…the Lord is with me like a dread warrior…”[ii] Because God never fails, Jeremiah had no fear of failure. By filling his life with signs, reminders, of God’s presence, the prophet knew he was not alone. When God is difficult to find, we come here to do a similar thing, to recognize God with us. The Eucharist, the Confessional, the Anointing of the Sick: the Sacraments bring us closer to the source of life, undoing the divides of Adam and Eve.
Disciples know we’ve not been made to be full of fear but to be prophets of God today. So, we bring our fears here and present them to the Saviour, the source of life. Poverty may have some temporary power now, but at Communion we remember how God defeats poverty by feeding us with his very self. Betrayal, injustice, heartbreak, even cancer and death: one look at the crucifix reminds us of the overpowering faithfulness of God. Bad things are going to happen to us, some will face terrible things, as did the prophet Jeremiah, there’s no escaping it. But here we’re reminded that God, through his love, will have the last say.
Maker of all that is good, many of your people are held back by fear. To those paralyzed by fear, send your Holy Spirit to draw them to yourself, the source of life. To those haunted by fear send reminders that you always walk with them and to those tempted to hide away for safety, may this celebration be a reminder of how your love conquers all. May your comforting presence fill our hearts, empowering us to walk boldly on the path of faith. This we pray through our faithful Lord. Amen.
[i] Jeremiah 20:10 (NRSVCE)
[ii] Jeremiah 20:11 (NRSVCE)
