Jeremiah the Prophet
Jeremiah the Prophet – Strength in the Midst of Suffering
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III spoke about the character of Jeremiah the Prophet, explaining that he was not, as some think, merely a weak man or inclined only to weeping, but rather a strong and courageous prophet who witnessed to the truth and defended the faith with power.
Jeremiah was called the “Weeping Prophet” because he wrote the Book of Lamentations, which carries the spirit of sorrow and tears. It expresses a meek and suffering heart grieving over his people, while the Book of Jeremiah itself reveals his boldness and the strength of his message.
🔹 God’s Calling of Jeremiah:
The Lord said to him: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations”.
And when Jeremiah excused himself saying, “I am a child”, the Lord answered him: “Do not say, ‘I am a child’, for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak”.
The Lord also promised him saying: “See, I have this day made you a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land… They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you to deliver you”.
🔹 His Difficult Mission:
Jeremiah was called to a painful mission: to rebuke and warn kings, priests, and all the people concerning the wrath and judgment of God, at a time when corruption had spread throughout Judah. The kings, the priests, the false prophets, and all the people had fallen into idol worship, impurities, and sorcery.
🔹 The Historical Circumstances:
His Holiness mentioned that the corruption began from the days of King Manasseh, who did evil in the sight of the Lord, built altars for idols, worshiped the host of heaven, and caused his sons to pass through the fire. His sons and successors followed him in evil until the cup of God’s wrath became full, and He sent upon them captivity and judgment.
🔹 The Suffering of Jeremiah:
Despite his meekness, he suffered greatly within himself, as he was persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and cast into the pit and the mire. Yet God was with him and delivered him every time.
His Holiness said: “Do not think that prophecy is an easy position, for Jeremiah was persecuted and mocked just as happened with the Lord Jesus Himself, of whom it was said: ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her”.
🔹 The Divine Word in the Mouth of the Prophet:
The Pope said: “The Lord put His word in the mouth of Jeremiah, so what the prophet spoke was the very word of God Himself. This is what we say in the faith: ‘The Holy Spirit who spoke through the prophets”.
🔹 Conclusion of the Spiritual Meaning:
God chooses the weak to put the strong to shame. Thus Jeremiah, through his meekness and purity, became an instrument of God’s power and an example for every servant who obeys the voice of God even when the path is filled with suffering.
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