Readings:
Jeremiah 1-2
Sirach 34
1 Peter 2

Jeremiah 1-2

The Book of Jeremiah was written by the prophet of the same name beginning in the middle of the reign of King Josiah and up until the early years of the Babylonian exile. He begins his prophetic work about 20 years before Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, a siege that is lifted when king Jehoiakim agrees to pay a periodic tribute to the Babylonians.

This agreement didn’t last long and Jehoiakim eventually quits paying the tribute, leading to an invasion of Judah and the king’s death. He was succeeded by his son who reigns for a few months before being carted off to Babylon as a hostage along with the country’s nobles. The Babylonians install a puppet, who eventually revolts himself and is then also taken captive to Babylon.

This series of events begins with the first siege by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC and culminates in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 587 BC. And Jeremiah was there and prophesying through it all.

He preaches a message first of repentance and return, so to forestall the coming judgment. His messages then turn to encouragement for the exiles after the judgment had come. And finally he tells of a coming new covenant that we know was fulfilled in Christ.

Chapter 1 starts out with Jeremiah’s call and reluctant acceptance. He’s then blessed and commissioned by God to take this message across the nation. In chapter 2 we see God laying out the charges against the nation despite him not doing anything but good for them. He recounts his saving them from slavery and giving them the land of plenty, and still they turned to lifeless idols. What a ringing indictment it is too.

1 Peter 2

Peter continues the theme of right behavior and holy living. He tells them that they are to be a holy and royal priesthood, like God originally intended for the Israelites in Sinai. This is where we hear about the common priesthood or the priesthood of all believers, this is different from the ministerial priesthood that is embodied by the sacrament of holy orders.

The baptized have become “living stones” to be “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.

CCC 1268

Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church “a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.” The whole community of believers is, as such, priestly. The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation the faithful are “consecrated to be . . . a holy priesthood.”

CCC 1546

The common priesthood is held by all believers through our baptism into Christ, who was a priest, a prophet and a king. We participate through the sacrifices that we offer, this consists of our crosses that we carry, our sufferings and our whole lives as living sacrifices to God.

Peter exhorts them to “honor the emperor” and this is especially interesting because the emperor personally called for Peter’s execution according to tradition.

We are given Jesus as an example of how to bear suffering. He had no guilt and suffered a horrible and painful death, but didn’t open his mouth or complain. This is the model for Christian suffering.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Jeremiah 3
Sirach 35
1 Peter 3