As I listened to the first reading for today’s liturgy, I must admit that I was not all that familiar with the story. It is a somewhat long reading, and the true meaning of the story did not become clear until at least half way through the reading. It was then that I realized that this was a story about a false prophet.
Jeremiah was just a teenager when he was called by the Lord to carry God’s Word to the priests and people of Judah. Imagine how anyone would feel if a very young person were to stand in front of you and confront you with your failings and shortcomings. The reaction of the people was predictable. They were not only indignant at the accusations, they plotted to punish him. Some even sought to put him to death.
Along comes Hananiah who contradicts the oracles of Jeremiah and promises the people that they will be able to withstand the attacks of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In order to illustrate his prophecy, he releases Jeremiah who had been placed in a yoke for his dire predictions.
False prophets tickle our ears with messages we want to hear rather than the message that we need to hear. This is exactly what Hananiah does. He tells the people that all is well and that they need not worry about the attacks of Babylon on Israel and Judah. Jeremiah has been telling the people that they will be carried off into exile because they have forsaken the covenant.
Most of us would rather hear “good” news rather than “bad.” If we see the doctor for an annual check up, most of us find a way to accept the good things the doctor has to say while ignoring the advice that we might also hear to lose weight, exercise more, eat more sensibly, etc. So we should not be surprised to hear that the people of Israel accept Hananiah’s message while rejecting Jeremiah’s.
Today would be a good day for us to spend a little time addressing the need for change in our lives. Use the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah as a springboard for your prayer. Ask God for a heart open to hear and a will to make the changes that are necessary.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator