Jeremiah lived about 5000 years ago. His world sounds very familiar. There is a lot of denouncing going on, and people trying to get back at their enemies. This was the world as they understood it and, not surprisingly, God is described as fitting into it. He will look out for his own and damn the wicked. (Jer 20:10-13)
Has anything changed in 5000 years?
Jesus gave us a different perspective. Paul is constantly pointing out that the new world introduced by Jesus is so very different from what came before. In today’s reading he repeats this message in a more formal or theological way for his audience in Rome. (Rom 5:12-15)
But how does this play out in practice for the world that Jeremiah describes, and one that many people still live in today? Our reading from Matthew provides an answer (Mt 10:26-33), but it does take a bit of unpacking.
When we hear it we tend to focus on the ending, but the key is at the beginning: “Fear no one”.
The answer to fear and persecution is not retribution and payback. That need comes from fear. And why would we be afraid? God loves us so completely, even more than the sparrows! So we have no need or desire for retribution. Retribution is the recourse of the weak. We are now strong in the risen Lord. As Paul tells us in another place – if God is for us who can be against us.
We can confidently assert our faith and know that Jesus is there for us: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.” The rest doesn’t matter. Fear no one.