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." (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
The text for today is the same as yesterday because its simplicity struck me. The word of the Lord that comes to the prophet is one that comes and speaks of a time before the prophets "time." "Before I formed you in the womb" is a part of that breath of life that comes to us before all things. Before the prophet could do anything...before the prophet could make anything of himself or become less than anyone else in the eyes of the world, the Lord God was present and focused and attending and calling Jeremiah to bring the word of the Lord to the people. The potential for faithful life is within us and being mixed into the brew of who we will become as people within God's reign. As we approach Reformation Sunday, I am struck once again by the unqualified and unconditional action by God. Yes, this is the calling of one of the great prophets of Hebrew scriptures, but it is also a reminder to all who have been baptized in Christ Jesus. Before anything can be established within our lives...before we turn out like "this" or like "that"...before anyone can come to some opinion about us based on what we look like or how we act, God has already acted and called us and made us God own. We are baptized! We are the Lord's beloved. Before you can think of anything else, trust this word that comes before all other words.
Connection: What is it to be a part of a community in which God's word before all other words is the only word that matters? What does that do to how we engage ourselves with the day's activities and the relationships we will enter? What difference does it make to this day if we see in the "other" what our God sees?!
Speak to us Lord, God. Your word of love has the power to transform this day and make us look anew at each person with whom we enter into conversation and share our gifts and our time. Bless us and call us out into your reign of peace and love. Amen.
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