Being Plotted Against
“The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said,
‘Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets. And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word.’”Jeremiah 18:18
One of the most uncomfortable feelings one can experience is being in a place where you know you are not wanted. What makes it even worse is when those people are trying to trap you or sabotage any good you may be trying to do. Have you ever had such an experience or something similar? Maybe a time when you were about to go into a situation where you know you will be disliked or painted as the “bad guy?” What was it? How did you feel? What happened?
The Prophet Jeremiah was only doing God’s work and preaching repentance when the people gathered to plot against him — not just to shoo him out of town but to actually kill him. That is the consequence and fruit of sin: a disordered, irrational, and obstinate way of thinking. Attempts the rationalize bad behavior, convincing yourself that you are doing the right then when you are not. The people were blind to their sins and when the Prophet of God came to them, they rejected him and wanted him destroyed. And about 600 years later, the people did the same to the One God sent to the people: Jesus Christ.
Throughout the Gospels Jesus predicts His passion, telling the disciples that He will be handed over, not by the Romans but by the chief priests and the scribes — His own people, condemned to death, mocked, scourged, and crucified, but will be raised on the third day. Although He was the Son of God, Jesus was not spared the suffering and humiliation. Rather, Jesus embraced it, not because He enjoyed suffering, but because He knew that the Father’s will will be brought to completion through it. He embraced it because it was the only way to face it. It is in embracing our challenges, struggles, and crosses that we come to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the meaning of love and sacrifice. Hence, Our Lord told the Apostles that the one who wishes to be great must be the servant of all.
To lead is to serve. To love is to sacrifice. To follow Christ entails suffering, including being plotted against by those whom we love. But this suffering is not the end. As Christ told His disciples, and as He truly did Himself, what comes after suffering and death is a glorious resurrection. Stay strong during these Lenten days, brothers and sisters, and especially when you are enduring trials or even being plotted against, know that the victory has been won already. Our hope and faith is in the One who has triumphed over sin and death. Resurrection, not death, has the last word.
