Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21 / Matthew 13:44-46
We often hear of "a calling". It may be a calling to the priesthood or the religious life. It may be a calling to a mission. It may be a calling to a particular state of life.
But just what is a calling? Is there a "voice" somewhere that is calling? And how certain is that a calling or is it some kind of imagination?
If we wish to understand what a true calling is, just looking at the 1st reading will give us a idea of what it entails.
Jeremiah was called to be a prophet. But it was certainly not easy at all. He was a man of strife and dissension. He was cursed upon and suffered insult for proclaiming God's Word to the people.
He lamented that his suffering was continual, his wound incurable. If we imagine ourselves to be in his shoes, we would probably want to end it all by giving up and running away.
But Jeremiah stuck to his calling because he knew it was God who had called him to be a prophet and God assured him that He is with him all the way and will save him from his enemies.
God was Jeremiah's treasure. Jeremiah also knew that when he does what God wants of him, then he is willing to give up everything for God in spite of his suffering.
May we also know what God wants of us, may we know what God is calling us to, and may we also give up everything and do what God wants of us.