Faith in God's Justice

Aug 3: Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

God’s ways aren’t our ways; His mercy and justice are not ours. Which is why we are commanded to take on His ways. We shouldn’t be surprised when He doesn’t do things the way we expect.

Reading 1

Jer 26:11-16, 24

The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people, “This man deserves death; he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people: “It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city all that you have heard. Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds; listen to the voice of the LORD your God, so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you. As for me, I am in your hands;  do with me what you think good and right. But mark well: if you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves, on this city and its citizens. For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you, to speak all these things for you to hear.”

Thereupon the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve death; it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.” 

So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Jeremiah seemingly himself at the mercy of his enemies—“I am in your hands.” But is he really?

He trusts God implicitly. He reminds them that the Lord sent him, and he hasn’t done anything wrong. Whatever consequences for that may be, Jeremiah accepts, because he knows in his heart he did what God asked.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

R.(14c)  Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!
may I be rescued from my foes,
and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,
nor the abyss swallow me up,
nor the pit close its mouth over me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Despite the overwhelming calamities the psalmist suffers (afflicted with pain, overwhelmed with a flood, etc), he continues to thank God. That’s why early Christians frequently cited this particular psalm when discussing Jesus’ passion. He was innocent, He suffered wrongly, but Jesus the Man maintained His faith in God the Father.

Alleluia

Mt 5:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus knew that being a Christian wouldn’t be easy, for His followers or Himself. He also knew it would be worth it.

Gospel

Mt 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him."

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

I don’t know about anybody else, but I was a little confused by this. Apparently, verses 3-12 (starting with “Now Herod had arrested John…”) are a flashback. Matthew is explaining why Herod thought John was dead, which wasn’t mentioned before this point in Matthew’s Gospel.

Herod, as the tetrarch, is meant to dispense the emperor’s justice. But he’s not concerned with justice, much less mercy; he just wants to impress his half-brother’s wife. He keeps his oath to her not because that’s what justice demands, but because he wants to save face with the court.

As the ruler of Israel in the emperor’s stead, he is not unifying the kingdom per God’s laws. He’s following his own human goals and desires.

We can totally understand his motivations and why he would do the horrible things he does. But do we see the horrible results? Do we recognize it’s because Herod acted in the way we understand and not as God understands?