We see in the reaction of the people of Judah what can be our reaction when a person tells us something true about ourselves that we are not yet ready to accept.  God sent Jeremiah to his people to tell them of their offenses and to call them to repent and be faithful.  The people hearing the truth about their way of life sought to kill the messenger rather than reflect on the message that God was sending to them.  Ultimately their refusal to listen to the prophet Jeremiah led God to exile his people to Babylonia. 

The Lord gives all of us this same message in the letter to the Hebrews today when we are urged to “rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.  We are tempted often to take our eyes off the Lord and to be distracted by the world around us.  This is the reason the people of Judah needed the prophets and why we need them too.  They remind us that we are not yet perfect and have not yet been restored to the perfect image of God our creator.  Let us listen often to God and keep our eyes fixed on the Lord that one day we will be restored to what God created us to be.

Fr. John