THEY WERE SCORCHED…

Jeremiah 1:1,4-10 
1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
4 ‘Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,5 “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.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak.8 Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Matthew 13:1-9 

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach.3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6 but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.
7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING traverse the story of Jeremiah, a humble reluctant youthful man, who highlighted his shortcomings such as; his youthfulness, his inability to speak and his fear for the unknown, to justify that he is not worthy to be a consacrated priest and prophet! 

Yahweh nevertheless made it known that He: knew, consacrated and formed Jeremiah, before he was formed in the womb. With this said, Yahweh anointed him with the gift of speech.

THE GOSPEL READING: The parable of the sower demonstrate that God will effortlessly plant His word in our hearts and minds irrespective whether we are: hard of mind, unsresponsive, marshed in sin or bone dry and burnt out! 

God is reaching out to all His children no matter their unworthiness wherefore all believers have a duty to continuesly pray for men and women to be unafriad to respond to God’s call and consider the; married life, religious life, or the life of a consacrated priest who exclusively serve Christ and His Church. We are also called to pray for the laity, priests and religious who are considering giving up their vocations, because they were hurt, scorched and left to dry! May our Lord visit them and reaffirm their consecrated covenantal gifts and faithfulness—calling them to serve His household and the Church! 

LET US PRAY; Psalms 71:1-6,15,17
1 In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline thy ear to me, and save me!3 Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.5 For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.6 Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of thee.
 My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
17 O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.