Homily, January 14, 2024
From The Pastor
How do people like Samuel and John the Baptist come to know and accomplish God’s will? It is easy to see that God had a particular call and purpose for Samuel and John. This is true of all the major Prophets including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, as well as minor Prophets like Hosea, Amos, or Micah. History makes it evident that God had a call and purpose for their life.
What about you and me? What about everyday people of faith, committed to God, who deeply value the Christian way? How are we to know the call of God on our life? How do we learn to perceive the voice of God or the movements of the Holy Spirit in us? God desires to speak to each of us. God wants an active relationship with all persons, particularly those who profess an active faith in the Lord Jesus. God’s call is not only for those who choose to live a religious vocation of ministry in the Church. God desires to engage each of us in building the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus.
Admittedly, Samuel and John the Baptist were particular cases. They both were born through Divine intervention. Hannah begged God for a child, and when Samuel was born, she consecrated him to God for Temple service. This was all in anticipation of Samuel’s role as a Prophet in Israel. The birth of John was revealed at the time of Mary’s Annunciation through the pregnancy of Elizabeth.
Beyond these Divine interventions, we can use both these actions of God to learn how to listen and respond to God’s call. Consider John the Baptist. After a strong formation in the Jewish faith and its history and parental influence, how did John come to his position in life? John embraced a deep faith in God with a desire to direct his life in the will of God. Few, if any of us, will spend a prolonged period of time in the desert seeking to hear from God. However, the manner of John’s desire is a path we can follow. John desired to know and hear from God. With careful attention to both mind and heart, John listened to his inner self to perceive God’s message to him. He set himself in a quiet place, free from undue influence or distraction to learn how to hear the Lord deep within himself.
God always initiates. God calls us. We choose to respond or not. John said yes to God’s offer. God honored his yes and formed his life to become the preparer for the coming of the Christ. John accepted this call, and the work of the Spirit was put into action.
Why did John act as he did in the company of his two disciples? This was an action or movement of the Holy Spirit because his words became a revelation of his role and purpose. “Behold, the Lamb of God.” In the Spirit, John is acting in his call. Notice how the interaction unfolds. Andrew and his companion listened to John’s words and acted on them. They too are moved by the Spirit. They follow Jesus who John points out.
Jesus perceives their presence and receives them. “What are you looking for?” This is the invitation. The response, “Where do you stay?” In other words, ‘can we be with you. Can we know you?’ Jesus invites them, “Come and see.” The journey begins. Notice further that the encounter had an effect. These two disciples of John are moved to acclaim Jesus as the Messiah. First thing Andrew does is go and tell his brother Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” Powerful words inspired by God in people who longed for and had faith in a coming Messiah.
What about us? The structure and dynamics are the same. It begins with faith in the desire to know and follow the Lord in a meaningful way. Faith comes from hearing. One way or another, we hear the Word of God, and it stirs in our soul. To seek God’s will you must desire it and listen. Samuel is a good example here. Unknowing, but with strong desire, he hears what he thinks is the call of Eli, the priest. With direction, he learns it is the Lord calling and readily responds when he hears again the call of the Lord.
The question of Jesus is a good entry point. “What are you looking for?” he asked the two disciples. What are you looking for in God, in your faith, for your life, as it relates to God? Learn to listen from your heart rather than your mind that often has a pre-planned idea. Feel yourself in the awareness of God’s presence with a desire to know him. Listen to what you hear and ponder what it might mean for you. Is what you hear from the Lord, from you, or another source? Attend and listen. An answer will come. Talk to God about what you hear and how you feel about it. Align it with your desire to love and serve the Lord and see how it fits. Is it a call from God or your own idea? Check your perception of the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you perceive the Spirit, the word or perception is likely from the Lord. How do you want to act on it?
We can all be instruments of the Lord in the work of building the Kingdom of God. The more we seek God’s will in a personal and meaningful way, the more deeply we will perceive the invitation and action of God in our lives. Try it!
Father John Esper
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