ALONE IN THE CROWD

DEFENDING OUR FAITH IN GOD.

Jeremiah was sad when he saw even his close friends mocking him. He was being persecuted by Pashhur, a priest. Pashhur was not pleased by what Jeremiah prophesied, so he hit him and put him in the stocks. Seeing that everyone was against him, Jeremiah wept in his heart and prayed to God, “Give heed to me, O Lord, and listen to what my adversaries say!” He was hurt, sad and broken. He was even more saddened by the fact that his friends jeered and mocked. But he had to say the word of God.

Jeremiah never allowed the pain caused by his adversaries to weigh him down. Those hurtful words tore into his heart like daggers, but he would not relent. He had to speak the Word; he would rather please God than be loved by men. It was hard, but he prayed to God, and God was his strength. Of course, God would not forsake him. God strengthened him and empowered him to preach to the nations. Even if Jeremiah chose never to speak again in the name of God, he could not rest because the Word set him on fire and moved him to speak. God’s work had to be done.

LESSON

Being alone in the crowd. That sounds rather contradictory. But that best describes the state in which Jeremiah found himself. Jeremiah, as a prophet of God, was very outspoken, and he had to suffer a lot of persecution for that. Even his own friends turned against him. The words of the psalmist probably rang in his head: If this had been done by an enemy I could bear his taunts (Psalm 55:12-14). But in the face of all this, Jeremiah made a firm resolution to preach the word of God; the same firm ground on which Paul stood when he said, “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:18).

As Christians striving to defend our faith, from time to time, we are faced with many challenges. One of such challenges is being rejected by the world because of what we stand for. Even our closest friends and families reject us because of the Christ whom we believe in and proclaim. It is not strange. It is the path on which Christ trod, the path on which the prophets trod, the path on which the saints and holy people trod, and the path on which we must tread if we must share Christ’s glory.

But why suffer for following Christ. It is simple. Let us think of gold. Does not gold have to be refined by fire before its worth can be proven? Does crude oil not have to be distilled through heat before it can be properly appreciated? So also, we who vie for the crown of uprightness must fight the good fight (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8). But we have one consolation, that the Lord who raises the brokenhearted will rescue the just from all their afflictions (cf. Psalm 34:19).

Moreover, Christ strengthens us all the more when he says, “Have no fear of men…and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” (cf. Matthew 10:26,28a). The author of the first letter of St. Peter also assures everyone who suffers in the name of God the glory which awaits them (cf. 1 Peter 4:13-14). This assurance comes with a responsibility to preach Christ before men. Thus, Christ says, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32-33).

Therefore, we must not be discouraged when the world disowns us because of Christ. Rather, we must strive on for the love of God, and in the hope of the glory which is to be revealed on the last day. The victorious shall shine like stars in the kingdom of heaven.

PRAYER

Strengthen us, dearest Lord, in the face of adversity, and give us the boldness to speak of you before nations. Help us to remain resolute in obeying you, even when the world mocks us for doing your will, that you may ever be glorified in our lives, and in the world.