Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 1: 1, 4-10; Matthew 13: 1-9
Jeremiah is known as a weeping prophet. When God called him to be a prophet, Jeremiah had every excuse ready. His excuses are often our excuses for not heeding God’s voice when he calls us. Jeremiah’s character and response to God’s call resonate well with our lives. God counters each
excuse with a promise.
The task – A prophet to the nations:
Jeremiah was called to be ‘a prophet to the nations’ and not a priest like his
father. Prophetic ministry was more demanding than serving as a priest. The priest’s
duties were predictable, and everything was written down in the law. The
prophets do not know from one day to the next day what the Lord would ask them
to say or to do. Prophetic life had many uncertainties. Jeremiah was aware of
the impending challenges and demands of the prophetic vocation.
Jeremiah objects on two grounds:
Jeremiah objects to God’s call on two grounds. 1. He does not know how to
speak. 2. He is too young. These two objections signify a deep hesitation at
the heart of Jeremiah. The hesitation and reluctance are confirmed by his claim
that he is only a youth. The claim, ‘ I am only a youth’, reveals the personality of Jeremiah: possibly Jeremiah was an introvert, timid, shy, and reserved boy who was suffering from an inferiority complex. He is inexperienced and does not have sufficient knowledge to speak to people and authorities. Jeremiah does not intend to abruptly reject the call of God by stating these excuses; instead, this is a sincere sharing and acknowledgement of his personal inadequacy for a prophetic vocation. Jeremiah was reluctant, but his courage to talk to God and express his
inadequacy is noteworthy. Courage surpasses reluctance.
Twist in God’s Response: God does not search and choose adequate or
talented persons. God chooses the inadequate and makes them the most fitting
persons. Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel all expressed their unworthiness, and God made them worthy. God promises to be with Jeremiah, the Lord puts his hand,
touches the mouth and confirms the prophetic call. But,,,
Jeremiah has no choice of message – He has to speak
what is commanded to speak.
Jeremiah has no choice of mission place – He has to go
wherever he is sent.
Jeremiah had no choice of the audience - He had to address to whomever he was sent.
Jeremiah is commissioned to pluck, break, destroy and overthrow- the message of doom.
God’s response to be with him is comforting but the mission
is frightening. The man, who wanted to
reject the call on account of his inability is given the most challenging task.
God does not change his mind on account of human inability instead He empowers
to overcome the inadequacy.
Jeremiah, a deserving soil: The gospel presents to us the parable of the Sower. There are four different types of soils. They have two things in common; Seeds and Sower. The Sower sows the same seeds in all four soils with equal toil, equal hope and equal generosity. The sower is not prejudiced about the soil’s quality or potentiality. The sower does not consider any soil unfit or undeserving of his seeds. Jeremiah was a deserving soil. The Lord sowed and harvested in abundance. Jeremiah passed through ravens, rocky soil, drought, thorns and thistles. He survived, he did not give up, he took the risk and bore fruits in abundance.
Our Takeaway
1. God calls whom He needs.
2. Jeremiah does not intend to abruptly reject God's call by stating his excuses; instead, this is a sincere sharing and acknowledgement of his personal inadequacy. Jeremiah was reluctant, but his courage to talk to God and express his inadequacy is noteworthy. Courage surpasses reluctance.
3. God does not change his mind because of human inadequacy; instead, He empowers people to overcome their inadequacy.
4. God does not consider any soil unfit or undeserving.
Jeremiah was a deserving soil. How about me?
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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