The liturgical commemoration of today and tomorrow are very much related. Today we have John the Baptist who loses his head (literally) for standing up to what he believes to be true and right. Tomorrow we have Jeremiah complaining to Yahweh that he cannot resist him!! Try as he may, he cannot but speak His word and be a prophet.
One thing common in both John the Baptist and Jeremiah, is that they end up paying a heavy price for their adherence to what they believe as true. Like Jeremiah, there could have been moments in the life of John too when he could have just walked away. Given up all that he felt deep within, and taken the easy path - the path chosen by most people, anyway! None would have noticed. None would have accused him of 'being normal'. Yet, neither of them gives in to that temptation, that desire, that feeling. They continue living a life, not really chosen by them but they find themselves embracing it none the same!
Rationally this is difficult to explain. They did not choose to be the 'odd ones out' in the first place. But by carrying on, are they really consenting to that life-style? Surely there is more than the mind here at play. Difficult to get the mind around it. The heart finds its way!
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