Gird Your Loins

Jeremiah 1:17-19
17 But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."

To gird up the loins means to draw all the loose fabric, that could get in the way when running, up into the belt, to essentially "tie up loose ends".

Jeremiah was anointed a prophet, even though he claimed he was too young and did not know how to speak.  It was true that he did not know how to speak, but the Lord touched his mouth and gave him the words to speak.

The Lord, in a moment, took away his spirit of timidity, as in 2Ti 1:7, and gave him a spirit of power, love and self control.

So it is with us.  According to our station in life, and the circumstances we encounter we are to speak truth to falsehood, integrity into deception.  We must proclaim that the emperor has no clothes, and not be afraid of the consequences.  But we, like Jeremiah must also speak under the anointing of God, not out of our own pride and self righteousness.

We are not unlike David, as a shepherd boy.  With a mere stone, he slew a giant, not by his power, but by his trust in God to make his aim true.  Our Acknowledgement of God must lead us to that trust in Him to be the Lord of our lives, and to build up in us His Power, His Love and His Self Control.

As Catholics we are encouraged to attend Mass more regularly, to pray our devotions more, to visit with the Lord in Adoration, and also we must seek out the sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, now more than ever.

Girding of the loins is not just about pant legs and extra fabric, but about all the loose ends that may prevent us from hearing and responding to the call moment by moment in our lives.