January 17, 2021
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
This weekend we see a common theme among the readings consisting of the call of certain people to the service of God. This call or commissioning of a person for a particular task is a type of story which is commonly found in the Bible.
For example, in the book of Exodus, Moses encounters God at the burning bush and is told he will lead the rescue of the Israelites from their servitude in Egypt. (Exod. 3:7-4:9). In “The Sending of Isaiah” (Isa. 6:1-13) the prophet experiences a heavenly vision of seraphim worshiping God as he hears the voice of God calling him. While Jeremiah also relates a personal encounter with God who tells him that he has been chosen from before his birth for a special mission (Jer. 1:4-19).
It is interesting to look at the responses of these various individuals to God’s call. For example, Moses is reluctant to do what God asks of Him. He offers many excuses about why he should not lead the people from Egypt. In fact, Moses resists to the point where God becomes annoyed with him and finally agrees to send his brother Aaron along to help.
Isaiah is at first fearful of being in the presence of God, but after an angel purges him of his self-identified wickedness, he more than willingly agrees to go to God’s people. Jeremiah instead claims to be too young for service to God, and later he becomes dismayed and despondent over the harsh treatment he has received from the people to whom he has preached.
In the First Reading (1Sam. 3:3b-10,19) the person who is called is Samuel, the last great leader from the period of the judges in the history of Israel. Young Samuel is in the care of the high priest Eli when he hears God calling. Three times Samuel mistakes the voice of God for Eli, until the elderly priest realizes that it has been God calling Samuel all along. Eli then instructs Samuel how to respond when he hears God’s call again and when this happens the young man willingly replies, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1Sam. 3:10).
In the Gospel from John for today (Jn. 1:35-42) the call is directed to the first two of the twelve disciples called by Jesus. They are identified as being Andrew and another unnamed man which tradition holds to be John, the son of Zebedee. After John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” the two men ask Jesus where he is staying. And when Jesus invites them to stay with him for the day, they eagerly follow him.
These call narratives hold a lesson for us today as Christians. We are called to many different vocations by God. Parents are called to raise their children in the traditions of the Church, seeing to their proper faith formation and reception of the Sacraments. They are also obligated to set an example of proper ethical behavior and moral response to the teachings of the Church.
In the realm of their secular occupations, Christians are called to treat their employers and fellow employees with dignity and respect and to perform their various duties ethically and honestly for the good of all who are involved. At the same time, their behavior must reflect the Christian nature of their faith in the way that they treat others in imitation of Jesus.
And then of course, there are those who are called to activities directly related to the Church – the priesthood, religious orders, lay ecclesial ministry, faith formation, and a host of others. Whether ordained or not, these ministers are looked upon as leaders, thus their outlook and conduct must reflect the high standards required by virtue of their exposure among the parish communities they serve.
The question then becomes: how do we respond to God’s call? We could be like Moses – hesitant, afraid, and argumentative. Or we could be like Jeremiah – reluctant and complaining against God when things become difficult and challenging. Or we could be like the eager servants of God – Isaiah, Samuel, and Andrew and John. We could respond enthusiastically and willingly, enduring without complaint the duties of our vocation.
