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Now I Have Put My Words in Your Mouth
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A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.
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."
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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This reading is from the Roman lectionary for the rite of ordination of a priest.
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Questions for Reflection or Discussion
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Choose the question(s) that appeal to you, either because it spontaneously grabs you, or perhaps because it seems too difficult.
Try jotting down your answers. The act of writing both organizes and generates thought.
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Being so intimately known by God both affirms and unsettles. Thus the psalmist has us sing:
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away. . . .
For it is you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made."
(139: 1-2, 13-14a)
And yet:
"You are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty." (51: 4b-5a)
- As I share in Jesus' priesthood, what aspects of my inner life give me joy for being known so intimately by God? What aspects give me pause or worry?
- What practices do I currently engage in on a regular basis in order to look at myself honestly and see myself as God sees me?
Being sent as one who speaks for God, who finds God where others cannot, and reveals and revels in the divine presence with those who might otherwise feel abandoned both affirms and unsettles.
- Jeremiah says, "I can't speak for you, I am just a boy." When I doubt my capacity to be God's prophet, what fears of insufficiency or what weaknesses would fill in the blank for me now?
"Ah, Lord God, truly I do not know how to speak for you; because I ____________________________________."
- How has God affirmed my share in Jesus' priesthood lately? What's one recent experience where God said, "Don't say you can't, because I know you can—I know that you did—and did well!"?
God challenges us to do what we think is not possible. Yet God believes we can do all that God challenges us to do—and be.
- "Go where I send you and do not be afraid." What frightens me most about my current ministry? About or for the people now in my pastoral care?
- One time when I most powerfully felt God "touching my lips" and putting the Living Word in my words and deeds was:
Return to the Read, Reflect, Respond index page.
Return to the Year for Priests Welcome page.
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