Jeremiah 1: Called (whether we like it or not)

Jeremiah 1 

Welcome to Jeremiah, my favourite prophet.  The message God gave to the prophets resonates with our time, perhaps with all time, because it speaks to our basest human condition and to God’s offer to live our best life.  Most of us live somewhere in the middle, hopefully closer to the option offered by God.  The prophets also remind us that we are not a solitary animal.  Our existence, in its basest or best state, is dependent on the society in which we participate.  The call of God, the call of Jesus to us, is not only to live our best self, but to encourage, persuade, even manipulate others to do the same and to do it together. Our best friends (and partners) are the ones who help us be our best selves but it is not easy to challenge and correct others in the choices they make, even those we love. Jeremiah was called to correct the leaders and the people of his time. Like Jeremiah, we find God’s call hard to hear, to understand and to accept.

Jeremiah by Michelangelo
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;


I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak,

for I am only a boy.” 

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”

 

9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth;

and the Lord said to me,

“Now I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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