“Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth!” Jeremiah 1: 9-10
Dedicated
In today’s first reading from Jeremiah, God tells the prophet, “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” (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremiah is stunned by these words, as I’m sure you or I would be if in his position. He doesn’t know what this means or how he could speak for the Lord since he is so young. However, God knew from before Jeremiah was even conceived that he would be a prophet. God dedicated Jeremiah to the task, and He does the same for us.
Called
What would you do or say if I told you that you, too, have been dedicated to be a prophet for God? I have news for you. Everyone who is baptized is called to be a priest, prophet, and king, someone who heralds the Word of God and speaks the words God has given them, the words He places in their mouths. God calls us to spread the Good News no matter how young or inexperienced we are.
Qualified
Maybe you’ve heard the expression, “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” This is a modern paraphrase of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27, and though the versus don’t look or sound the same, the message is clear. God makes fools wise and makes the weak strong. God molds us into being what He needs us to be in order to spread His Word. Because we are called, we are qualified. God will provide the wisdom, the strength, and the words we need to succeed for His sake.
Prayer:
Dear Father, help me to hear your call and answer with confidence, knowing you will provide all I need to further your mission. Amen
Call to Action:
What is the Lord calling you to do that you are resisting out of fear or lack of confidence? Pray for the reassurance that you will be well-equipped for the task.
This post was first published on July 24, 2024 at https://catholicvineyard.com/are-you-qualified/
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