In the first reading of March 22 taken from Jeremiah 20:10-13, we see how the Prophet Jeremiah’s own people turn against him and seek his destruction. Jeremiah complained to the Lord and further expressed his trust in Him.
In reference to the aforementioned Bible text, Rev. Fr. Mark Mandela Anyigbah, in his reflection for the day, reminds the Catholic faithful of how the prophet of God is attacked and denounced by his close friends, adding that Jeremiah’s faith in God was steadfast even in these moments of difficulty.
“Jeremiah, the prophet of God is attacked and denounced on all sides by his very close friends. His own people were scheming to destroy him. In his ministry, he was ridiculed, imprisoned and even thrown into a dry well to die. To crown the series of persecutions Jeremiah experienced, he was eventually captured and sent into exile. In all these moments of great difficulty, his faith in God was steadfast”, the priest said.
Fr. Mandela further reiterated that our steadfast faith in God is what keeps us going when all odds are working against us, adding that our faith becomes the light that dispels every darkness in such difficult times.
Our faith, he said, “makes a way where there is no way. It gives us hope in situations of despair. It is the anchor that keeps us connected to God. Our faith assures us that God is always with us and his presence is all we need,” the Accra Archdiocesan Priest said in conclusion.