In today’s first reading, Jeremiah 18: 1-6, the Lord asks Jeremiah
to go down to the potter’s house. “Rise
up, be off to the potter’s house; there I will give you my message.” Jeremiah
responds without hesitation and, sure enough, there is the potter working at
the potter’s wheel. The art piece that
he was trying to make did not turn out well so he started over until the vessel
was to his liking, was truly a work of art to be admired and used for its
designed purposes. The Lord’s message to
Jeremiah was addressed to the house of Israel. “Can I not do to you, house of
Israel, as this potter has done?...Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter,
so are you in my hand, house of Israel.”
As I reflected upon this passage, the thought struck me that
God speaks to us in ordinary language! “Get up! Rise! Be off.” Who does not
understand that kind of language? It is so ordinary that I frequently pay no
attention. “The Lord speaking? You got to be kidding. I’m too busy now.” And I miss the opportunity of grace. I miss
God’s message that was waiting for me or the message that God wanted delivered
to another through me. How sad that the
simplicity and the humility of God trip me up into oblivion. How often I continue in my stupor. I choose
not to pay attention!
Jeremiah paid attention! “Jeremiah, pray for us that we,
like you, will “rise up, be off” to that place to which God directs us, that we
engage in that activity to which God is
calling us, to that person where God awaits us. No matter where it might be,
what it might be, God will meet us there. He has an important message to
deliver to us through a certain person, at a certain place! Pray that we will
have the humility to follow God’s mundane, humble way of making Himself known
and sharing the Wisdom of God.
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