Father Michael's Weekly Reflection

"But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph." (Jer. 20:11)

This is the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Jeremiah was given a mission to pronounce bad news. He gave his excuse to God upon being called but the Lord assured him of his company and protection. The prophets heard God speak clearly and relied only on his fidelity to his promises.

We should be careful when receiving baptism because it is an adventure. If we truly give free reign to God over our lives we can be assured that the outcome will be different than our own but better. "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" was the experience of St. Paul. The reality of our life depends on simply knowing what God wants. Once we know this, we can be assured that he will give us the strength to do it.

Questions for Reflection:

• Do I trust in God's plan for my life?
• When faced with my human limitations, do I realize that I won't have what it takes?
• Have I learned to depend on divine providence to get through moments when I cannot stand?