At the risk of beating the same drum again, I’m compelled to grind the same axe about Jews who believed in Jesus as the Christ and those who didn’t. Quite the clever dovetailing of today’s reading with the Gospel. Our liturgists from long ago assembled these readings perhaps without realizing their devastating effect on those of the Jewish faith. Most Christians have no clue about the nuances of these texts. We begin with Jeremiah: I hear the whisperings of many: "Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!" All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. "Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him." But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them,