17 March 2021 Saint Patrick, Bishop, Missionary

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 1:4-9, NRSV

Like Moses and some of the other prophets, Jeremiah did not welcome the role to which he was called. He felt that he was too young and unskilled and needed much reassurance. In today’s reading we hear God giving that reassurance by telling Jeremiah that he had been chosen and set apart. When Jeremiah protested and said that he was only a child and would not know what to say, God assured him that he would be protected and given the words he needed to say. There are many parallels between the call of Jeremiah and the call of St. Patrick whose feast we celebrate today. The legend of Patrick tells us of how he was captured when he was about sixteen and sold into slavery in Ireland. After escaping from his bleak existence as a herdsman, he returned home but then had a dream in which he felt he was being called back to help the people of Ireland. He resisted this call for many years feeling unprepared for the task. He immersed himself in study and became a priest. Eventually he did return to Ireland where he played a major part in converting the people to Christianity.

• • Why do you think Jeremiah did not seek or welcome the role to which he was called?
  • Have you ever felt called by God to a role for which you felt unprepared – what reassurance did you receive?

Pray today for the people of Ireland.