The Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Today is Sunday the 30th of January, beginning the fourth week of Ordinary time.

Salt of the Sound sing a setting of ‘Nearer My God To Thee’.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:4-5; 17-19

Now the word of the

Lord came to me saying,

‘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.’ But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them. And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the

Lord, to deliver you.

‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.’ These words to Jeremiah the prophet speak of a deep and intimate knowing of our being by God. How are you hearing them at this moment?

Take a moment to simply be in the presence of the God who formed you in the womb. What is it like to be known by such a God?

Jeremiah writes that ‘in the days of Josiah, the word of the Lord was addressed to me.’ As you hear the passage again, imagine God personally addressing these words to you. What does God want you to know?

The prophet Jeremiah knew himself to be known, consecrated and appointed by God who promised to be with him no matter what difficulties he faced. The same God who called and reassured Jeremiah calls you today. What is God’s word for you now in your present reality, where God has appointed you to be? How do you want to respond?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.