20TH JULY 2022
Reflection
Our today's reflection is based on our first reading which is from Jeremiah 1:1,4-10
The meaning of the name Jeremiah is unknown, with suggested interpretations including ‘the Lord founds.’ ‘the Lord exalts’ and ‘the Lord throws down.’”
The name Jeremiah was common in Judah. It occurs several times in the OT. At the time of David there were two, and possibly three Jeremiahs among David’s mighty men (1 Chronicles 12:4, 10, 13).”
Jeremiah chapter 1 talks about:
- the call of the prophet Jeremiah
- his hesitance to take up the call because he "only a young lad".
- God's assurance to him that he'd chosen him before his conception
- God himself touched Jeremiah's mouth signifying consecration
- God assured Jeremiah of his support and gives him mandate "over the nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant"...
The Bible mentions many people who hesitated to answer to God's call because of their personal weaknesses; a few examples include:
- Moses claimed he was a poor speaker/ a stammerer but God gave him an assistant.
- In the New Testament Zachariah,the father of John Baptist, went mute for 9 months for doubting the angel's message that his wife would have a babe.
- Mary, the Mother of Jesus, asked "How is that possible since I know no man?" But the angel of God assured her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she'd be the mother of God's Son.
- Timothy had doubts and feared to lead because he was young; Apostle Paul told him, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity”. (1 Timothy 4:12)
This tells us that God chooses each of us for a specific purpose- well aware of our strengths and weaknesses (after all He is the one who created us). We should not fear to serve God because of our perceived weaknesses; rather we should allow God to use us as earthen earth ware vessels that St Paul compares himself with. God will consecrate us after choosing us and then use us as His instruments of His grace as He desires.
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