Thoughts for the Day

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.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we see how Jeremiah is called by God, and complains he is too young. But God will not hear of it, he has ordained Jeremiah from before his birth to speak the truth to the nation of Judah, and to all nations. This prophet was to work bravely for 40 years, and together with King Josiah he was to do his best to bring the people back to God, before a succession of evil kings succeeded and the nation was overcome by the Babylonians.

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, and I find myself thinking of bravery in the face of evil - of those who fought in World War II, and of the 17 million people, including 6 million Jews, who were slaughtered by the Nazis.

Christians have inherited so much that is good from Judaism, not least that God chose His Son to be born and live as a Jew. Today let us pray for all who are persecuted for their faith, and let us stand up to those who shout "conspiracy" so frequently, whether it is over the Holocaust, or that the world is flat (really - there is a 'Flat Earth Society'), or about Covid 19.

Heavenly Father,
we pray for all who are persecuted,
and for the families and friends
of those who must live their lives
with the memories of such tragedies.
Help us to stand up to the bullies
who claim "conspiracy",
and never to forget to pray
for all who need our prayers.
Amen.