[17] But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. [18] And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. [19] They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”
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Commentary:
1:13-19. Jeremiah is shown a pot that is beginning to boil over (v. 13). He is given to understand the meaning of the disquieting news that is reaching Jerusalem – rumours of advances by foreign armies that threaten the holy city from the north (vv. 14-15). These reports are a warning that God sends his people to encourage them to admit their unfaithfulness (v. 16). In this way the Lord is beginning to announce a future punishment, which we shall hear much more about as the book develops – a chastisement to be inflicted on the people of Judah and Jerusalem for failing to keep the Covenant.
It will be up to Jeremiah to speak to them, reproaching them for their sins and explaining the reasons for events (vv. 17-18) – not an easy task, but God will give him the strength to perform it (v. 19).
This passage outlines the framework, the setting, of the oracles and narratives contained in the book. God never forgets his people and, in a time of crisis, when the kingdom of Judah is about to collapse, he chooses Jeremiah and sends him out on his mission. God means him to show the people the real reasons for all the distress they will meet and, once all the various disasters have come to pass, he intends Jeremiah to console them and assure them that God never abandons them.
The fact that John was delivered over to death seemed to indicate that the letter of the law, a mere shadow, was destined to die at the approach of the law of grace.
The head of the prophet is brought to the table of Herod. Blessed John had told him that it was not right for him to take the wife of a man who was still living, and for this one admonition Herod had him thrown into prison. Look at the distance between injustice and justice, brethren. Even when the judgment of God delayed, even in this world Herod was blamed for so many years, while John was praised just as many years. Truly the memory of the just will always be blessed, but the desire of the wicked shall perish. Let our minds be aroused by the examples of the saints, for by imitating such deeds perhaps we will sometime attain similar good things. If it is not our fortune to end this life in defense of the truth, at least let it be our lot to amend our life after we have heard the truth. Let us speak on behalf of the truth, and whenever we know that it is in difficulty, let us hasten to defend it as far as it is possible, knowing most certainly that the defender of justice is going to receive the crown of martyrdom. For if Christ is the truth, doubtless the man who has borne witness to it will be a martyr of Christ. Now it often happens that even we ourselves do something contrary to truth and justice. For this reason let us not only rebuke others who do these things, but let us also punish ourselves with fasting, vigils, and prayers, as often as we act contrary to justice, and also redeem our sins with more generous almsgiving. Then while we are rebuking others and with God’s help amending our own lives, if we do not merit to receive the martyr’s crown, we will at least deserve to obtain the forgiveness of our sins. With the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Saint Caesarius of Arles