Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. Mk. 1: 17-18
When we hear Jesus beckoning to us, "Follow me," his words have a power like no other. His call has the ability to reach into the depths of our souls and rouse us in a way that we cannot resist. His summons is unlike any other call or voice heard. It is not like the words of a human voice, or even that of an angel heard in a dream.
Communication with God has the same irresistible quality in every situation where we genuinely seek to make contact with our Lord. Every situation of life lends itself to being a vehicle for discovering and communicating the divine.
Being open to contact with God enables us to hear the Lord's calling to us in places deep within our souls, in places where we feel the stirring of our whole being. His holy voice touches us, causing our emotions to well up as we respond to him in the same deep place as where his beckon falls. His calling out takes hold of our being where we are--at work, at worship, while having dinner, while praying alone in a candlelit chapel, or while placing the Body of Christ in the hands of a child.
In his contact he grants us a moment of certainty experienced like no other--it is a moment that has the power to extend itself outside time where we will be with God always. Perhaps we feel compelled to say in return, "I thank you for this moment where I have no doubt, for this special time where I believe as never before." We hear his soft whisper again and again, "Anything you want...anything, anything." We respond, "Only for your will to be done for in your will is our perfect pleasure."
In the moment of his calling out and in our faith-filled exchange the greatest of mountains move from our pathways. Time dissolves and the prayers of the saints echo in our ears--the prayers of our mothers and fathers of long years past. The simple truths of long ago are made present at once and angels worship alongside us. Again, we whisper our thank you.
Despite our failings, despite what we have been and failed to be, he loves us and has called out to us. Today we have heard him speak and have seen his power. To him we have said, "Speak your words to my soul." No dream could have told what his response would be like.
What a great gift to have heard his calling out, his summons. In the calm of deep whisperings he grants us the knowledge that we have no need to fear any threat that may come. Indeed come what may, let us rejoice in our saving God--the God who is with us. The God who knows our names and calls to one of us.
Beautiful. Amen.
Posted by: Carol | January 26, 2009 at 10:19 AM