A Prophet’s Job Surely Isn’t Easy

In Friday’s reading (Jeremiah 20:10-13) for the 5th Friday in Lent, the Prophet Jeremiah was sure having a bad day. Of course, if we read the entire book attributed to him, we’ll see that he suffered ridicule and persecution for more than a day. And how would any of us like it if our enemies AND our friends coined the nickname for us “Terror-All-Around”? They must have thought he was the bearer of bad tidings.

In spite of his experience of persecution, Jeremiah could still say: Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for God has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked. May we have the courage to be prophetic, and may we always remember the source of our strength and our hope, for a prophet’s job surely isn’t easy.