It is a great sign of honor to be chosen by God for a challenging mission. But in most cases, this sign of distinction becomes also a burden as the chosen missionary or prophet has to face difficulties, oppositions, and even persecution in the fulfillment of his/her mission. In such circumstances,
faithfulness to the God-given mission carries a heavy price. Such was the experience of the prophet Jeremiah and of Jesus himself, the greatest of all prophets who was rejected by his own townsfolk in Nazareth. But he remained faithful to the end, in spite of all opposition and disappointments,
simply because he knew that the salvation of all human beings depended on his perseverance. Faithfulness at all costs to our mission is the message of God’s Word to us today. In this Eucharist, let us place our hope in Jesus and get our strength from him as we work for the coming of his Kingdom.
