From
the 1996 Lenten Devotional
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. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build
and to plant.
Jeremiah
1:4-10
'And
now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name
him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the
Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his
ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and
of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel,
‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to
her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be
holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative
Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the
sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will
be impossible with God.’
Luke
1:31-37
Prayers
are following the sun around the world today as ecumenical
communities gather to celebrate World Day of Prayer [which is always
held on the first Friday in Lent, March 1 in 1996].
Haitian
women, who wrote the [worship] service using the theme “God Calls
Us To Respond," put their attention on how God has called people
in the Bible. The calls to Jeremiah and Mary follow parallel
structures and have elements commonly found in a call from God:
encounter with God or God's messenger; an introduction; a commission
to do or say something; and objection to the call because those
called are honest about their limitations; consent (sometimes
reluctantly); and reassurance that God will be with them and empower
them as they risk to do God's work.
Jeremiah
learned that he must tear down and destroy so that he could then
build and plant something new. Mary listened to God's call, said
“Yes” and offered a life in service of God's plan. God has a plan
for you/me. As women of faith we can offer a ministry of listening.
Often in the midst of competing voices it is difficult to discern
God's voice. Is there some act of compassion, a voice for justice, a
reassuring touch, an encouraging word that God is calling us to
accept? God doesn't make mistakes in choosing messengers. God
provides for the needs of those who respond and assures us we will
not be alone.
Prayer:
O God, Open our ears - open our hearts -- so we may listen and hear
your call. Help us know how to discern your call and how to respond
in faith and hope. May our actions show love, promote justice,
proclaim your glory and give glimpses of the realm of God. Amen.
Lois Poston, Friday, March 1,
1996
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