(Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.)
Meet Jeremiah. Like Moses, he exercised his ministry for about forty years. While Moses led his people into the Promised Land, Jeremiah went with his people into exile from the Promised Land. While Moses brought his people out of Egypt, Jeremiah died in Egypt. Like Moses, who tried to get out of the task God had for him, Jeremiah tried to excuse himself by being too young (he was about 13 years old at the time God called him). Like Moses, he was a Levite.
The prophet learned that God had called him from before his birth and conception, to be a prophet of God. He learned that age has nothing to do with it. He also experienced that somehow God could put the correct words into his mouth. Jeremiah would often struggle with this vocation: it would not be easy to root up and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant. We shall spend about two weeks with Jeremiah.
So, what is my excuse? What is your excuse? We cannot blame age if we are over 21. We cannot plead old age if we are retired. There are no age limits on God’s call to service. When God puts a word into our mouth, we have to speak it, whether we like it or not. God promises to- be with us.
We have met the prophet Jeremiah, the one who, with Moses, brackets the history of God’s people in their homeland. We have met one like ourselves, who have been called into existence by God for the special work God has assigned us. While we may question God’s choice at times, we find that we have to accept and live out this calling because all will work out well for it is God’s work.