Wednesday 20 July 2022

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Today is Wednesday the 20th July, in the 16th week of Ordinary Time.

Paul Zach sings, ‘Always With Me’.

I can make it through the day

When you're with me on the way

In my heart and mind you'll stay

I can make it through the night

When I'm clinging to your light

You will make the darkness bright

For you are always, always with me

For you are always, always with me

In the calm and in the storm

When it seems I'm all alone

It's your hand I find to hold

In each hour of unrest

When it seems I've nothing left

You speak peace in every breath

For you are always, always with me

For you are always, always with me

In the morning, in the evening

When I'm waking, when I'm sleeping

When I'm arriving, when I'm leaving

You will have me in your keeping

Even from my mothers womb

Never hidden from your view

I was always known to you

When I fade away in death

You will catch my final breath

You will take me to my rest

Today’s reading is from the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

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.’

Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ 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.

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,

says the LORD.’

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.

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.’

As you listen to today’s reading, what is your immediate response? How does this conversation speak to you?

In today’s scripture, God calls the young Jeremiah to be God’s prophet. Like many before and since, Jeremiah tells the Lord that he is not up to the task. Have there been times when you have felt called in this way? What has been your response?

‘I am only a boy’. Have there been times when you have said or thought something similar? Perhaps you have felt too young or too old to do something… Perhaps imposter syndrome or feeling inadequate for some kind of task has made you say something similar. Can you recall why you thought this?

As you listen to the reading again, notice that the Lord cautions Jeremiah that there is no ‘only’ when God is with him. The psalms remind us that our help comes from the Lord.

In a time of reflection allow God’s presence to fill your spirit and to guide you in the day ahead.

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.