“The Call Leads to Commitment”
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time-B
While I was a Chaplain for the VA Hospital in Tampa, a young veteran came to my office and asked to speak with me about a decision he was pondering. During the conversation, he explained that he was tired of his “dead-end job, tired of living with his parents and tired of not having enough money.”
As we talked, he shared that he was contemplating “joining the Priesthood.” He sounded as though he thought you could join the Priesthood like you do the military. I listened and then asked him how much education he had, if he enjoyed speaking in front of people and having his life interrupted at all hours of the day and night, and not making a lot of money? He looked at me and asked why I was asking those questions. I explained that to be a Priest he must submit himself to a battery of Psychological testing, study for both his bachelor’s and master’s degree from a Seminary and then, only with the Bishop’s decision could he be ordained a Priest. He looked at me with a puzzled look and said how long does all that take? I responded that it could take up to 8 years, and then he would be sent where he was needed not where he might want to go. He stood up and said: “thank you Father, you helped me with that decision!” Then he left my office.
I helped the young veteran understand that just because we think we are getting a call from God we must discern if it really is God calling us. Often when he really does call us, his call is not so easy to discern, or if we discern where it is coming from, we are no so quick to follow. For example, Moses was in no hurry to take on the job God was asking him to do, even though the message came with unmistakable clarity. Samuel, on the other hand, kept hearing God call, but did not know it was God. It was his mentor, the high priest, Eli, who helped him know God’s voice. When I felt God calling me to be a priest, it took many years to discern that it was God and respond. I dated all through High School and after. I was engaged for a short time, but God kept calling like he did with Samuel, until I responded and committed myself.
When God calls, we seldom know what we are getting ourselves into if we follow that call. Samuel did not know that he would become a leader of God’s people, or that he would be a prophet or a priest. Mary, the mother of Jesus did not know what she was in for when she said “yes” to God. The apostles did not know that they would have to give up more than just their fishing business or that following Jesus would literally cost them their lives. Saint Mother Theresa felt called to teach for 20 years and then received what she called a “call within a call” to serve the poorest of the poor and start a new religious order.
If I had known when I entered the seminary some of the difficulties I would have to deal with as a priest, I would have said, “God, I’m not sure I can do that. Now, however, I can say I am glad I did not know; I am glad God was with me during those hard times, and I am glad that I followed God’s call. That call has led to a life-time commitment for me.
Our environment calls to us from so many directions: TV, email, mobile phones, social media, radio, etc. A lot of times God gets put on hold so we can listen to a call from somewhere else. If we want to hear the Lord, we must put all other voices on hold so God can get through. I borrowed a phrase from another priest about my prayer life: “if you don’t schedule it in, you schedule it out.” We must make time for the Lord if we really want to hear him, and if we do not, we will not. God bless us all!!