“I know not how to speak; I am too young.” – Jeremiah 1:6

Brendon Burchard was 19 when he figured in a terrible car accident that almost took his life. That night, he came face to face with mortality that made him ask these three questions: Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?

       He shared these questions with a few friends and some of them encouraged him to talk about his story more. But he was afraid to. He wanted to change people’s lives with this message but he didn’t know how to go about it. One night, he heard Tony Robbins on TV give this message: “You have unlimited personal power to live the life you desire and make a difference, and I can help you tap into it.” That night, he bought Tony’s audio program and listened to it over and over. Inspired by Tony and other self-help gurus, Brendon later became known as “an expert at helping people become experts.” He is now a bestselling author, a motivational speaker, life coach, etc.

         God called Jeremiah to be a prophet but he felt he was too young for that and didn’t know how to deliver God’s message. Remember, when God appoints, He anoints. Whatever is lacking in us, God will supply. All He wants is our yes. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Is God asking you to do something and you feel that you are not equipped? Just say “yes” to God and He will take care of the rest.

Lord, I’m afraid to say yes because I feel inadequate. Help me trust You as You equip me for the mission at hand.

If we follow God’s will, then we should never doubt it. It does not matter how impossible a task may seem at first. If God has asked us to do it, we can be 100 percent sure that He will give us the grace to do so. This is the promise of God. Let us trust in the goodness and justice of God and so always have the grace we need to do the work of His Kingdom.

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10

1 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. 4 The word of the Lord came to me thus: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” 6 “Ah, Lord God!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord answered me, “Say not ‘I am too young.’ To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, “See, I place my words in your mouth! 10 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.”

Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17

R: I will sing of your salvation.

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. (R) 3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. (R) 5 For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. 6 On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. (R) 15 My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. 17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (R)

A good disciple is fertile soil for the Word of God to grow in his life. You know a good disciple by the fruits of the Spirit in his life. If we grow in our faith, then the fruits of the Spirit also grow in our lives (refer to Galatians 5). Ask  yourself, “Am I growing in these or not?”

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.

Matthew 13:1-9

1 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3 And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

think: A good disciple is fertile soil for the Word of God to grow in his life.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Nehemiah 10-13

THE “WEEPING PROPHET”

Since we begin today our daily readings from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, let us have a brief look at this great prophet. He is often called the “weeping prophet” because he suffered like no other prophet for the courageous messages he had to proclaim.

       Jeremiah lived in the seventh century B.C. He came from Anathoth, a village north of Jerusalem, and he spent most of his prophetic career in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Jeremiah began to prophesy during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. He was called to be a prophet while he was still a youth and so he told the Lord, “I am too young.”

       But God assured him that he had been chosen already when he was in his mother’s womb. As a sign that there would be no cause for celebration in Judah, God commanded him not to marry.

      Often Jeremiah spoke against those who thought that Temple worship protected them from the consequences of sin. So he was repeatedly arrested and King Jehoiakim had his prophecies burned. But Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, produced a new copy of the oracles. Jeremiah remained near Jerusalem while the Babylonians captured and destroyed the city, but later his friends took him to Egypt where he spent the rest of his life. A Jewish legend has it that he was killed in Egypt by his own countrymen.

      Jewish prophets like Jeremiah were not men who predicted the future. They pointed at the evils of their time, at the sins of kings and people, at the violation of the sacred covenant with God, and called for repentance. They had to tell the people what they did not like to hear: the truth.

     And yet, in spite of all persecution, imprisonment and harassment, Jeremiah remained firm and faithful to his God-given mission.

      We Christians are also called to participate in the prophetic office of Christ. The problem is that we prefer to please others than tell them what is wrong in their life and action. After all, we are afraid of rejection — so different from Jeremiah the “weeping prophet.” Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you take your prophetic task seriously and tell the truth whenever you see evil around you?

Lord, give me the courage to be more prophetic in my dealings with others and the strength to face the consequences. Amen.