July 12, 2015

15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

Amos 7: 12-15; Ephesians 1: 3-14; Mark 6: 7-13

After reflecting on the readings today, I came up with a question that is good for me to spend time with:

I am called by God to be …………….!

I could immediately fill in this blank and then go on to the next question…but this is the only question! Then in realizing it is the only question I would come to the apparent response for me which would be ‘a priest.’ Others may take this question and respond that they are called by God to be a parent…a mother…a father…a spouse…a doctor…a nurse…an engineer…a designer…a computer programmer…a teacher…a student…a neighbor…a friend…a brother…a sister…a deacon…a religious…and the list continues. Some may stop and think that they have to be multiple ‘people’ depending on the situation and circumstances. Yet each of us is called by God to be one thing before all the rest.

The readings today present different situations for the individuals involved, each one being ‘called’ by God. Amos had no intention of being a prophet. He already had two jobs, one as a shepherd and the other as a tender of sycamore trees. I imagine he needed both jobs to support his family. He presents the situation to Amaziah a priest of Bethel saying that he rejects the title of prophet. He did not belong to the ‘professional prophet class’ and he received no money or stipend He is not a trained seer. He was called by God to announce devastating oracles against the northern kingdom of Israel. He was not at all popular in that region. He felt overwhelmed with this task. Which leads to another searching question for me:

What criteria do I use to discern when to accept or reject a call to service?

Down through the years, I have been asked to do many things: serving on committees, talking on a responsibility, etc. My problem is that I almost always say, ‘Yes’. I don’t feel I’m alone in this: you have been called to a volunteer part-time (it’s never part time); to be on a neighborhood committee, to take a new place at work in a new division, to baby sit the grandkids, to watch over a neighbor’s house, etc. So often ‘yes’ is given because we feel it is a summons from the Lord.

The time has arrived for the apostles. They had been listening to Jesus, watching His miracles, seeing how He cares for all people and is delivering God’s message. They had already been specifically chosen to be ‘apostles’. Now Jesus is sending them out to preach repentance and to anoint with oil those who were sick and to cure. And they were to take no food, backpack, or money. Did they feel qualified for this? I’m sure they didn’t. Mark doesn’t tell this but I’m sure there were loads of questions: how do I do this…what if there is opposition…what if the authorities interfere…what if…what if….and I’m really uncomfortable with this. The good part is that they go out in two’s…but did they like the one they were going with? Who did Judas go with…how about Thomas who always doubted things…or Peter the impetuous one. Today’s question is a direct question for each of them: I am called by God to be....!

Paul is sharing with the Ephesians how he and each person has been blessed with every spiritual blessing. And Paul helps each one of us with ‘our question’. God has chosen each one of us. God has chosen each one of us before the foundation of the world. He has chosen each of us to live at this time in this place. He has gifted each one of us and continues to gift us with everything that we need to be His people of love. He gave us Jesus to be our model and the Holy Spirit to continue to grace and help us. And Paul answers our question:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with very spiritual blessing in the heavens, and He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to BE HOLY and without blemish before Him.”

Alice Camile in Exploring the Sunday Readings shares these words, “Maybe you’d say no to being a prophet, if the celestial text inviting you to the role arrived on your smartphone today. (Perhaps you’d say yes if you got the text despite the fact that you have a rotary phone!) Not everyone is summoned to prophecy, as St. Paul notes in describing the spiritual gifts in the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians. So most of us can breathe a sigh of relief for being spared.

But every person who bears the name Christian is called to be holy. Before the dawn of creation, according to Ephesians, God anticipated that life in Christ would sanctify us in a way that would make our identity apparent before the world. How are we doing so far?

‘In Him’ -- that oft-repeated phrase in this letter which leads us to recognize that life in Christ is a whole new state of affairs – we’re blessed, chosen, destined, redeemed, forgiven, enlightened, and sealed with the Spirit. All of us are ‘in Him,’ included in this vital citizenship, by virtue of our baptism. You’ve already said yes to the call to holiness.”

Each of us is called to be HOLY! As we live our daily lives we sometimes find ourselves in tasks that we are completely unprepared for. We can even feel overwhelmed but if these are tasks God has called us for and which He has called us to then HE GIVES us all we need to do them. What do I need in these cases? Faith in God. Faith is not that easy but it is a gift from God. And as Paul starts out,” Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENS.” God does not lie. His promises are forever.

So I reflect on:

• What does it mean to live a holy life? Do I consciously embrace the vocation to holiness?
• Do I give into the devils’ temptation to start working on my holiness when I get older or have more time?
• St. Ignatius the founded of the Jesuits said, “There are very few people who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves into His hands and let themselves be formed by His grace.”
• God is speaking to me individually and to each person. I need to listen to what He is saying…Take time and listen.

Our Prayer:

Lord, you call me to take up my cross and follow You. But each time I start on the journey something gets in the way. I am afraid, Lord, of what the future might bring. Yet I read about the disciples and how they laid down the things of this world in order to follow You. Give me courage, Lord. Amen.