“Let us cut the tree down while it is still healthy; let us kill him so that no one will remember him anymore.” — Jeremiah 11:19, Good News Bible. This statement foreshadows the conspiracy against Jesus.
This verse perfectly captures the kind of injustice and wicked plots we see repeated throughout history — and even in our present day.
In today’s Gospel, the chief priests and Pharisees sought to arrest and kill Jesus — not because he did anything wrong, but because he did what was exceedingly right. He taught with divine wisdom and healed a man who had been sick for 38 years (John 7:15-17, 23). His good works made them envious. Despite the people’s praise-calling him a prophet, and even the Christ- and despite the officers saying, “No man ever spoke like this man,” the religious leaders pressed on with their wicked plans.
More so, when Nicodemus, a respected man of the law, tried to uphold justice by asking, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him out?” they scorned him too, saying, “Are you from Galilee as well?” (John 7:40–53).
Beloved, the harassment, silencing, and even murder of just people continues in many parts of the world today, especially in developing countries. But I believe that if we raise our voices and act to protect the innocent, we will make Jesus Christ proud — for he, too, walked this painful road on his way to Calvary.
May the Holy Spirit fill us with the courage to speak out and stand for justice, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
