The readings for Pentecost 14 are taken from Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; and Matthew 16:21-28.
Jeremiah laments his solitude and the opposition of the people. He is perplexed. If he is serving the Lord faithfully, why is he suffering so? Yet the enemy will not prevail, and God will be with Jeremiah to strengthen him and deliver him.
Paul provides the Roman Christians with a long list of what a life flowing from the mercies of Christ looks like. Only by the infinite mercies of Christ are we inspired and empowered to fulfill that of which real life consists. But love for others is hard for our human nature.
Jesus shows, again, in Matthew’s Gospel, what being the Christ looks like. What we feel as so very hard in our lives was infinitely harder for Jesus: to love His enemies absolutely while bearing the shame, guilt, and consequences of our lovelessness is incomprehensible to us. But it comforts and inspires us to love others as Christ has and continues to love us.