Sunday Faith Reflection

For the day when the Prophet Jeremiah publicly yearns for vengeance.

Happy Father’s Day! Much gratitude to my own dad, my husband, and all the dedicated fathers out there who make such a huge difference in the world. A few words on fathers, before getting to my Scripture reflection.

Fatherhood is rather an interesting topic for reflection, in the spirit of Christendom Reborn, as something simultaneously deeply traditional (patriarchy!) and adaptable. Consider this: in an age when very few people of any political persuasion are satisfied with the present state of men, nearly everyone has a highly favorable view of fathers. And it’s widely agreed by everyone now that fatherhood is extremely important. Glorifying single motherhood isn’t much of a thing anymore. What particular outcome do you most care about in kids? Physical health? Safety? Academic performance? Avoidance of criminality and addiction? Transmission of faith and moral standards?

Fathers. Pretty much every outcome is rosier when kids have fathers, especially if they have good relationships with their dads (but usually even if they don’t). This is now pretty widely known. TV sitcoms may still serve up the occasional “doofus dad,” and “patriarchy” is still a fairly hot button, but to my eyes, fatherhood’s stock is pretty high. Justifiably! It’s great to see the world come back around to such an obvious truth!

At the same time, it’s worth noting that this isn’t just a case of tradition weathering the test of time. Fathers themselves have also adapted to changing circumstances. Nobody nowadays supposes for a moment that it’s enough for a dad to bring home the bacon and preside magisterially over the family dinner table. They’re putting in the time going to the concerts and sporting events, playing the board games, building relationships. They seem, in general, to have very positive feelings about this. And it’s clearly very good for the kids. Hooray for old-but-adapted things! For young men seeking a path to both meaning and social approval, there’s one fairly obvious answer: fatherhood. Everyone approves of dedicated dads.

In honor of their day, we’ve got a very fun set of readings, in which the Prophet Jeremiah, lamenting the hardships of being an outcast and social pariah, offers the Lord the following entreaty:

O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.

Jeremiah 20:12

This is one of those scriptures that makes me want to laugh out loud. And possibly cheer. “Lord, vindicate me. Oh, and by the way, when you punish my enemies… can I watch?”

It’s possibly a tiny bit disturbing to see a prophet venting such vengeful impulses, and yet we can understand. Certainly, anyone who has had the experience of “being canceled” (as the kids now say) can readily understand. Kat Rosenfeld recently posted her “cancellation story,” and her account had some good insights, which will inspire a rueful nod from anyone who has experienced anything of this kind. (I have, though Rosenfeld’s case is considerably worse than anything that ever happened to me.)

Getting canceled, to be clear, is much more than just getting piled on for something controversial that you said. It involves losing things: People who once employed or sought association with you go sprinting the other way. But paired with that, it has an element of fantasy and fabrication. You do your best to defend yourself with truth, and it’s made clear to you that the truth does not matter here. Your enemies have their story put together and it’s working for them. You might do a sincere moral analysis of your own behavior and confess to a few things (a too-sharp word here or contextually-imprudent line of analysis there), but that would just enrage them. You’re a meme now, a prop in a constructed storyline. You can’t have understandable (even mixed!) motives or nuanced thoughts. Your personal fate is unimportant. The Cause (whatever that is) demands you as collateral damage.

At moments like that, the phrase “post-truth society” starts to feel very apt. Even if truth still exists, it doesn’t seem to have much to do with anything. There is only “influence.” “Messaging.” “The narrative.” If you’ve lost those things, you’re done here.

We should try very hard to be honest with ourselves about whether and when truth is really on our side. Being fallen, most of us do have mixed motives when we say a controversial thing (even if we weren’t particularly expecting it to be so explosive). But in the end, we should take comfort in the knowledge that the truth is never really vanquished. God always sees.

Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.

Matthew 10:26

Nor are we ourselves truly forgotten.

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10 29-31

Jeremiah may have been a bit hungry for vengeance, but may it was more about vindication and truth. Which is very relatable. But anytime you’re tempted to think of yourself as a “truth warrior,” I recommend mentally setting your case before Jesus, an exquisitely fair judge who certainly cares about both you and the truth. Quite often, you’ll find at least a few things in your own behavior that could stand to be improved. Nevertheless, the truth does matter, and if you can keep that North Star in view, steadfastly enduring as his witness, he will never sprint the other way. You will always have an advocate.

If not… it doesn’t really matter who controls the narrative for a day.