A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 4 OT

Jeremiah 1:4-19 (MSG)

1 1-4 The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:

5 “Before I shaped you in the womb,

    I knew all about you.

Before you saw the light of day,

    I had holy plans for you:

A prophet to the nations—

    that’s what I had in mind for you.”

6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.

    I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”

7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’

    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.

I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.

    Don’t be afraid of a soul.

I’ll be right there, looking after you.”

   

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

A prophet to the nations—

    that’s what I had in mind for you.”

A prophet to who?

To the nations

To the kings and rulers

Governments and rulers

To speak Your Word to them

To say aloud what the Your Spirit lays upon

our hearts and in our souls

    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.

I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

We know what you want us to say

To speak of peace and justice

To proclaim Good News for the poor and oppressed

They will ignore us

Turn a deaf ear

Close their minds and hearts

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

They will get angry

Protest against our interfering

with their settled ways

They will attack us

Threaten us

Crying out:

"Who will rid us of this meddling priest."

What a heavy burden you put on us

O God

    Don’t be afraid of a soul.

I’ll be right there, looking after you.”

With you beside us

we will speak your Word

With your presence

we can withstand whatever comes

With your Spirit

we can stand in the courts and marketplace

With your grace

we can be messengers of the Gospel

Boldly we go forth to be your prophets

Humbly we ask your guidance in this mission

Gratefully we offer our thanks for your trust in us

Amen