I am in Your Hands

“As for me, I am in your hands; do with me what you think good and right.” Jeremiah 26:14

“He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Matthew 14:2

Piety

Lord God, the world is a dangerous place. Save us as you sent the community of believers to save Jeremiah.

Savior Jesus, the world is a dangerous place. Use us as you used John the Baptist to prepare the world for your mission, death and resurrection.

Holy Spirit, the world is a dangerous place. Protect us. Even though we have not heard your call to face death like the prophets, we indeed face death every day when we turn our backs on you. Protect us from pursuit of a life that focuses on affluence, not charity, on abundance, not sharing.

The world is a dangerous place. We are in your hands. Give us a community to support us on our journey. Help us to fulfill our destiny with lives exemplifying piety, study and action. Let your mighty powers work in us. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/080506.shtml

Do you remember the first time you experienced the death of a loved one? I remember like it happened yesterday. I remember feeling empty…like a hole opened up in the world. Nothing would fill that hole.

This execution of John in today’s Gospel is the first time we see Jesus experience death personally. This wasn’t just any relative. This was John the Baptist. This was the baby who leapt in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary visited! This was the man who prepared the way of the Lord. This was the man who baptized Jesus and who was there when the God uttered those famous words – revealing Jesus as His Son, imploring us to pay attention to what Jesus taught.

Where would we be as a Church people without John the Baptist?

Where would Jesus be?

Where is Jesus going?

On hearing the crushing news, Jesus tried to withdraw tries to have some private time to mourn. He heads off in a boat to a deserted place to be alone and to pray. How empty was Jesus feeling? Not only in mourning his cousin but also in knowing these same political authorities would play a role in his execution. “But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” (Matthew 17:12)

John’s death is the end of an era and the beginning of another era. It is the end of the period of preparation and the beginning of Jesus’ independent ministry in Galilee. Just as John’s preaching prepared the way for Jesus, John’s death prepares the way for Jesus’ miracles. John’s death leaves a place on the stage for Jesus to enter. Jesus does indeed take center stage and continues the “agitation” of the religious and political leaders that would lead to His own death and resurrection – also at the hands of Herod the tetrarch.

Jesus fills the void miraculously.

Action

Jeremiah and John got themselves in trouble because they were not afraid to tell their political leaders that their public actions were not acceptable.

"Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;listen to the voice of the LORD your God,so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you." Jeremiah 26:13

In the first public veto of his terms in office, President Bush vetoed a bill that would allow experiments on embryonic stem cells because it would require the destruction of innocent lives.

However, the world’s political leaders including our own administration seems to let the violence against innocent Palestinian, Lebanese and Israeli lives continue unabated. The latest escalation has now been going on 25 days. Last week officials said there would be a cease fire this week. This week there was a cease fire announced that was not implemented.

Rather than peace now, leaders are willing to defer that in an attempt to address the root causes of the violence. In the meantime, (25 days and counting) missiles still fly in all directions. Peace dreams deferred. Innocent lives lost. Can we veto this?!

Lord, deliver us from evil and grant us Peace Now!

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-- And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?