Jeremiah 1:4-10

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.”

Do you feel a need to act to alleviate the pain and suffering in someone you know? Do you recall a time, even now, when you feel God calling you to speak out about an injustice or a harmful word or activity that is damaging to your community? Have you had a dream of the chaos about you in which you feel you are called to act? What are you going to do about it?

Jeremiah received a call from God to do just that. God reminded Jeremiah that he was special in God’s eyes. God created Jeremiah to be a prophet; God would give Jeremiah the words to say; and God would protect him through it all. Jeremiah was to respond to what he saw and heard with the Word of God which would warn those who heard it of the danger before them. Some things just had to change, or the consequences would be disastrous for them or those around them.

We mourn the hatred, divisions, disfunctions, and cruelty we hear and see around us. We treasure those folks who care for others, who care about God’s creation and the world about us. Yet sometimes we feel there is nothing we can do. So, we pray for peace and justice and harmony. That is good!

But sometimes, sometimes, the moment comes when God speaks in our hearts with a word and opportunity to share God’s view of hope and love. Sometimes it may mean speaking a word of admonition. And if the latter is so, we put on the best Christ-like attitude and speak that word of correction with firmness, love, and respect.

We should want what God wants. So we listen to God’s Word, pray, and then act as a faithful prophet of God.

Prayer: Lord, I do not know how to speak, I am afraid of getting involved, and I really don’t know what to do. But if you are calling me to be an instrument of your peace, give me the courage and the gifts to do it trusting you to bless me and to be a blessing for those to whom you send me. Amen