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08 Nov 2015 - Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

There is no higher calling, no loftier dream, and no greater goal than to live, breathe, and be poured out for Jesus Christ. —From Brother Andrew’s The Calling The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over . . . . –David Foster Wallace, This Is Water

calling

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The inner word

25 Oct 2015 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Running through the readings this week is a sense of call. We hear of the Israelites’ joy when God called them back from exile. The Letter to the Hebrews makes it clear that only God calls the high priest. In the gospel the blind Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, and Jesus to him. Where and to what is God calling you? Back to God? To some new vocation? To receive healing?

Vocation call

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Homily themes

12 Jul 2015 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world. If this week’s readings have a theme, it might be: “Everything starts with God.” Despite the opposition of the priests who had gotten cozy with rulers—and despite his own reluctance—Amos answered the call of God’s “taking” of him to renew the prophetic office of Israel. For its part the Letter to the Ephesians said God’s plan of salvation for each person is so encompassing that it was made even from before creation. And in the gospel Jesus told the apostles to depend on nothing and no one but God and what God put in their paths.

Vocation call

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Homily themes

18 Jan 2015 - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Here I am. Biblical figures use these words frequently to respond at important moments, especially when God calls them. In addition to today’s readings from 1 Samuel and Psalm 40, “Hear I am” comes from the lips of Abraham (Genesis 22:1); Jacob, when the Lord speaks to him in a dream (Genesis 31:11); Moses, when God calls to him from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4); Isaiah, who answered God’s question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” with “Here am I; send me!”; a disciple in Acts named Ananias who sees the Lord in a vision (Acts 9:10); and the Blessed Virgin Mary, who at the Annunciation says, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). In these stories, the response of those God calls is immediate. To be called is an invitation to participate in the drama around us. Great vocation stories, like that of Samuel, begin with a clear sense of being summoned by God to respond personally and with commitment. Some disciples begin their call by trailing Jesus, but not exactly following him. When are we going to embrace the invitation and listen to the sound of God’s voice?

calling

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Homily themes

10 Aug 2014 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

So there was Elijah, on the same mountain where Moses and the Israelites encountered the mighty presence of God. There were the disciples, having their own encounter with God’s presence in Jesus’ power over the elements of creation. All of them were afraid. But there was no reason to fear. The voice of the Lord came through, whether small or in the commanding words of Jesus, and what is needed is to listen for that voice. What is it saying? Not only “do not be afraid”; it is also issuing a call: for Elijah to take up again his prophetic mission, and for the disciples have the courage to step out of a boat in the middle of the night.

call Elijah fear listening

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Exploring the word

11 May 2014 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

Today we pray for vocations—and mothers. Not such a strange pairing because many vocations into this world come by way of mothers. Many learned to say their prayers from their mothers and were brought to Mass (later dragged to Mass) and sacraments and other parish involvements because it was important to their mothers. You learned her values and observed them in her example and maybe that left an impression on you. A lot of you are in church this morning because of the woman we honor society-wide today. But obviously some inherited their religious values from their fathers, or grandmothers, or a significant mentor or friend who made the faith seem so attractive and desirable that they came to the church later. It's probably extremely rare (if it ever happens at all) that someone wakes up one morning and independently has a thought to become a Catholic or to be baptized a Christian. Faith is a gift that comes by way of a giver. As the saying goes, it's caught more than taught. We use "call"-language of invitation or summons to describe the experience. People come to faith because of what they've heard, and their arrival is their response. "Call" is not a singular event. When you enter into relationships with people, you don't get one phone call, one invitation, and never hear from them again. Rather that voice becomes a familiar voice. You come to know everything about that voice because it's a sound you want to hear and to which you leap up in response. The call to Christ is the same way. It doesn't occur once, in baptism, and then fade away. Instead you seek to hear that voice again and again. So you come around to dinner. You share the old stories over and over. You listen for new information and affirm the fundamental intimacy with gestures: rituals of greeting and departure, asking for forgiveness as needed, surrendering forgiveness when asked, handshakes, careful attention, sharing resources, eating a meal of celebration together. Mostly you're present to relationships so that intimacy can deepen. You spend time talking and in silence. You share the events of your lives, the pain and triumph, the hopes and the needs. You build trust through the sheer force of time spent together. When the relationship is real, the sound of that person's voice is something you recognize anywhere: on the phone, in the street, in a shout from across a crowded auditorium or whispered into the darkest hour. Context doesn't matter: That's him, that's her. When you've learned the sound that grace makes in your lives, you'll recognize it anywhere and everywhere. You'll even be surprised how often you're being called by the voice that desires to lead you all the way home.

Authors Alice Camille

Vocation call Mother

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The inner word

11 May 2014 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

Do you follow the Good Shepherd? Do you hear his voice? Whom do you follow? Jesus as your shepherd will lead you in the direction of peace and fullness of life. Jesus will guard your soul, and kindness will follow you. Turn toward the goodness in your life, recognize his voice, and walk with him: You will not walk alone.

call Shepherd

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Exploring the word

30 Jun 2013 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

It’s said that a refined person always knows when it’s time to go. Most of us have many more friends afflicted with what psychologists call “termination issues": They can’t seem to hang up the phone, say goodbye at the door, or leave an email unresponded to. They can’t stop talking or even make room in a conversation for the person who’s forced to endure the onslaught of their words. The want of a proper sense of boundaries is epidemic in the land of Facebook, Tweets, and text messaging. For too many of us, it’s not breaking up that’s hard to do. It’s signing off. We share the pain of young Elisha, who’s minding his own business on the family farm when along comes Elijah, casting his cloak over the boy and claiming him for divine designs. Elisha didn’t ask for this assignment. He wasn’t nipping at the heels of the formidable prophet like a lovesick puppy. Elisha was just doing his filial duty at home when all heaven broke loose on his unsuspecting and perhaps unambitious head. The poor fellow is forced into scripture scholar Rudolf Bultmann’s moment of decision without time to think straight. He blurts out his need to kiss Mom and Dad goodbye—an admirable and perfectly understandable expression of love and loyalty. There’s nothing out of proportion about his request. The famously solitary prophet, though, snorts his disdain at anything less than total desertion of domestic allegiances in favor of the celestial summons that’s just been sounded. If this farm boy can’t distinguish between his earthly parents and God Almighty, he’s got some learning to do! We who experience termination issues in every doorway can’t help but feel how harsh that is. Can’t Elisha still rent a room from his parents and prophesy from home? Why does he have to leave right this minute? And is it strictly necessary to off the oxen and surrender all ties to his past endeavors? Needless to say, by the time we get to the gospel story, we’re primed for resistance. Once more Jesus accepts no excuses or delays when he issues his invitation: “Follow me.” It’s more of a command than a suggestion. At the same time, the recipient can refuse to comply, and most do. They all express reasonable objections. One offers to follow but withdraws after hearing about the crude accommodations ahead. Another wants to stay home till his parents die—which could take awhile considering they may not even be sick. A final invitee asks only for what Elisha wanted: the chance to part from his family in a less hasty fashion. Even this modest request is rejected. The message is clear: The Kingdom won’t wait. A disciple, too, must know when it’s time to go. Scripture links Giving testimony: Acts 2:1-11; 1 John 1:1-4 Called to Christ: Rom. 1:5-7, 8:28-30, 11:29; 1 Cor. 1:1-2, 26-31 Famous calls in scripture: Gen. 15:1-6; Exod. 3:4-10; 1 Sam. 3:1-18; Ruth 1:16-18; Isa. 6:1-8; Jer.1:4-10; Acts 9:1-6; Gal. 1:11-16 “Unequal yokes”: 1 Cor. 10-13; 5:6-8; 6:15-20, 7:12-16; 2 Cor. 6:14-18 Catechism links Facing Jerusalem: CCC 557 Human freedom: CCC 1730-1742; 1749

Authors Alice Camille

discipleship call kingdom

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The inner word

30 Jun 2013 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

It’s shocking to hear what Jesus and Elijah demand of those who wish to be a disciple: leave your work and entire way of life. Don’t even say good-bye to your family. Don’t even bury the dead! Ancient ears more used to exaggeration in language, however, heard these harsh words less literally and more symbolically of the complete reorientation of one’s priorities in order to be part of God’s kingdom. The psalm describes the challenge perfectly: to “set the Lord ever before me.”

discipleship call

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Homily themes

12 May 2013 - Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Many if not most of the prayers of the liturgy are antiphonal: They follow a pattern of call and response. The readings for this Sunday have examples of a similar pattern. Those who “say, ‘Come,’ hear the response, “ ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ ” The call is both an invitation to and a plea for salvation. Jesus, saying yes, invites into the love of God the ones who seek life—the “tree of life” and life-giving water.

call invitation

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