As We Gather
It should be no surprise, for the Lord warned them from the beginning. To follow Christ, to live our Baptism, to be a Christian will not be a life of ease, peace, and abundance, but rather one of trouble and contradiction. All the apostles and prophets found this to be true. Jeremiah’s complaint is repeated by all who have discovered the Christian life is but warfare between life and death. Because Jesus gave Himself to the defeat of the devil and our spiritual slavery by letting it all have its way with Him to the cross, all who believe are freed and made participants in newness of life by simple faith in this grace and mercy of God for us. Jesus says three times today, “Do not be afraid,” so now even with the prophet’s complaint repeated, we can rejoice with him, “Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD!”
