Catholic Reflections on Daily Mass Readings
Today's readings gather around the dangerous vocation of telling the truth. Jeremiah is dragged before the authorities and threatened with death for prophesying against Jerusalem; he does not recant but places himself entirely in their hands — 'do with me what you think good and right' — trusting that it was the Lord who sent him. The Psalmist cries from the mire and the watery depths, yet declares that the Lord hears the poor and does not despise those in bonds. In the Gospel, John the Baptist pays the full price: imprisoned for telling Herod 'it is not lawful,' he is beheaded to satisfy a rash oath made at a birthday feast. Herod holds all the power and yet is trapped — by his vanity, his guests, his fear of the crowd. The prophets hold no power and yet cannot be silenced. On the memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church, the readings ask what our own truth-telling will cost, and whether we trust the God who hears the poor enough to pay it.
This week, notice the places where you are tempted to trade the truth for approval — to make a Herod's promise you cannot honor, or to stay silent because speaking would cost you. Ask for Jeremiah's freedom: 'I am in your hands.' Then say the true, loving, difficult thing, and trust the God who hears the poor.
In your hands
That's a very insightful question, especially when we think about our families. Jeremiah's words in the first reading show a profound trust in God, even when facing danger. He spoke the truth God gave him, then placed himself entirely in their hands. For us in family life, this could mean speaking a difficult truth to a child, a spouse, or an aging parent – perhaps about a destructive habit, a strained relationship, or a decision that goes against our values. We are called to speak with love and clarity, as Saint Alphonsus Liguori encouraged, aiming to draw people toward God's mercy. Once we've shared that truth, especially if it's been prayerfully discerned, we then surrender the outcome to God. We can't control how others will react, or if they will change, but we can trust that God will work through our faithful witness, even if the immediate result isn't what we hoped for. This surrender is a way of saying, "Lord, I've done my part; now I trust in your providence."
