Jeremiah 1: 4-10: The prophetic mission of Jeremiah, born and raised in Jerusalem, close to the temple, endured for forty years. Intimate with royalty, he was friend and confidant to those in power during Israel’s most turbulent times, as the mighty kingdom of Assyria fell to its successor, Babylon. Today we read a personal note: the dawning of this man’s prophetic vocation. Twenty-six centuries later, our own dialogue with the Lord, complete with human excuses and divine encouragement, forms our calling as disciples in almost the very same words. In this passage, over and over again the Lord repeats his command to take up the work which he has selected for us. We then need to respond today.

1 Corinthians 14: 12b - 20: Genuine prophecy exhorts, warns, comforts, and corrects. Of all the gifts of God then, prophecy best fulfills, as St. Paul puts it, the ‘building up of the Church’. The Christians at Corinth eagerly desired what they thought was a better gift, that of speaking in tongues. So the Apostle responds in today’s passage, in terms which label the gift as dangerous, unwieldy and impractical - what we might call today an ‘ego trip.’ The passage itself is so reader friendly that it could either be read as a letter of instruction or a brief talk in front of a group of friends. At the end of this passage there is a little summary given as a word to the wise.

St. Luke 4: 21 - 32: We continue this week the reading of the incident in the synagogue at Nazareth. Jesus has read from the Scriptures; now he sees in the stories of Elijah and Elisha their true meaning, that is to say, God’s Spirit speaks to whom he wills. He does not, as Jesus’ hearers were used to thinking, limit himself to speaking to those skilled in theological disputation. Jesus has offended their pride. But when the decisive moment comes, on the brow of the hill, no one will touch him; and so as he moves on, he continues to speak and to assert his authority, which makes him for the time being safe and secure. Without a doubt, this is one of the most argumentative speeches of Jesus, as he is saying that God chose two completely unknown, obscure people to help him in his work.

Psalm 71: 1 - 8: This psalm is an individual lament where the psalmist is an old man who is in sore and dire straits because of the assaults of enemies and possibly because of other afflictions . But with his prayers for deliverance he expresses his unshaken faith, strengthened by long experience, and still praises God for goodness received and hoped for, and makes a plea for deliverance and support.

Prayer of Approach to Holy Communion: We thank you O Lord our God, for the Sacrament of your Divine Body and Blood, given to us in this Holy Eucharist. As the Bread is broken and the wine is outpoured, so may we as living members of your Church proclaim your Gospel of peace and love to a sinful world; and by our individual and corporate witness, lead ourselves and others to follow your example, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen

With all good wishes,

Archdeacon Val Hodge