Word to the Wise
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Wednesday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time
[Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 and Matthew 13:1-9]Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
If you've ever been handed a task that you felt was too big for you and for which you feel utterly unqualified, then you know how Jeremiah felt when he received his call to be a prophet. As in Moses' call at the burning bush, God brushes aside Jeremiah's protests (cf. also Isaiah's call: Is. 6:5-8) and promises that Jeremiah will receive whatever help he needs to get the job done. If you read through Jeremiah, you'll see that Jeremiah is not always so sure that God has provided all the help needed! Jeremiah complains about the work he has been called to do and questions why God has chosen him to do it. (ch 20:7-18) It is little comfort to him to know that God chose him "before he was born," because he wishes, after engaging in the task, that he had never been born! I can say from my own experience that many has been the time I have asked God about a particular task, "Why did you send me to do this? I'm unqualified, this is going to fail, and I have no idea what to do next!" The response is the same everytime: "Just do it. I'll help!" Jeremiah or anyone else in his position has my complete sympathy. I have not always succeeded in doing what God asked me to do, but I've never lacked for help. AMEN