First reading Jeremiah 1:1,4-10
Go and say whatever I command you and do not fear
The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family living at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
before you came to birth I consecrated you;
I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’
I said, ‘Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!’
But the Lord replied,
‘Do not say, “I am a child.”
Go now to those to whom I send you
and say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to protect you –
it is the Lord who speaks!’
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me:
‘There! I am putting my words into your mouth.
Look, today I am setting you
over nations and over kingdoms,
to tear up and to knock down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’
Responsorial Psalm 70(71):1-6,15,17
My lips will tell of your help.
In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, free me:
pay heed to me and save me.
My lips will tell of your help.
Be a rock where I can take refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
Free me from the hand of the wicked.
My lips will tell of your help.
It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, since my youth.
On you I have leaned from my birth,
from my mother’s womb you have been my help.
My lips will tell of your help.
My lips will tell of your justice
and day by day of your help.
O God, you have taught me from my youth
and I proclaim your wonders still.
My lips will tell of your help.
Gospel Matthew 13:1-9
A sower went out to sow
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’
____________________________________________________________________________
Go now and speak…
“‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations” (1st reading). These were God’s words to the prophet Jeremiah. From all eternity, God knew Jeremiah and chose Him as a prophet to the nations. Likewise, God has called us from all eternity to be His prophets and to speak His word of justice, truth, and love to the world and the Church. “Go now to those to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid them, for I am with you to protect you.” God told Jeremiah that He would be with Him. Likewise, God promises us His continuing presence as we collaborate in His mission.
In the gospel, like the sower, Jesus sowed the seeds of God’s word, but not all grew to bear fruit. Yet, Jesus never stopped preaching the message of the Kingdom. As collaborators of God’s mission, let us pray for perseverance to continue our prophetic mission even though we might not see the desired results
Reflective question:
What is the source of my strength and joy in mission?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
