Catholic Commentary on Jeremiah 45

“Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.” (Jeremiah 45:5)

A Word for Baruch

This is what Jeremiah the prophet told Baruch son of Neriah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim after Baruch had written on a scroll the words Jeremiah dictated: you said, woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest. The LORD says to Baruch: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the whole land. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.

The Catechism identifies the word to Baruch as the model of the servant who accepts modest, real protection rather than grand compensations: the gift of life itself is the sufficient gift when everything else is being overthrown (CCC 1806).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. Baruch was seeking great things, perhaps the recognition and safety his service to the prophet seemed to merit. God strips the ambition away and offers the only thing that can be guaranteed: your life as the prize of war. In the season when God is tearing down, stop seeking great things. Be grateful for your life.

Prayer

Lord God, in the seasons when you tear down, keep us from seeking great things for ourselves. Let our life be sufficient prize. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

45
Jeremiah’s Message to Baruch
1 This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:
 
2 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You have said, ‘Woe is me because the LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.’ ”
 
4 Thus Jeremiah was to say to Baruch:* 45:4 Literally Thus you shall say to him: “This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted. 5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

*45:4 45:4 Literally Thus you shall say to him:

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