Sunday 23 June 2024

Today is Sunday 23 June, beginning the 12th week of Ordinary Time.


IAMSON sings ‘Slow Down’.

Slow down, where are you going
What's so important that can't wait
Tell me what are you seeking
What is it thats keeping you from
Bringing me your questions
All that you carry, all that you bury underneath
Just slow down, just slow down
And meet with me
Rest now, be in the present
Here in the blessings of today
Listen just for a moment
I am the only one with
Words to calm your worries
Focus your mind on me, I am the way to perfect peace
Just slow down, just slow down
And meet with me

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:4-10

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.’

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”. These words are addressed to Jeremiah, but they could just as easily apply to you and me as well. What does it feel like to know that God has been this close to you, has known you intimately, since before you were born?

Although Jeremiah became a famous prophet who spoke God’s word to many people, when he was first told of this, he felt unworthy, unready, “only a boy”. Do you have those same feelings about the task of speaking God’s word – or even just speaking about God – to the people you meet? Not ready? Not qualified? Not good enough? Not sure what you’re supposed to do?

God invites us all to be bearers of his word, so, as you hear the reading again, try and imagine yourself in Jeremiah’s place. Hear God speaking all these words, not to him, but to you.

How do you want to respond now to this invitation, this commission, from God? If you have feelings of reluctance, uncertainty, unreadiness, tell God about them. Whatever it is you want to say, say it to God now.

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.