Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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We tend to think that the Lord only calls certain people, and they are extraordinarily blessed and special.  However, if we look at today’s Gospel, we see that the men, who become Jesus’ first disciples, encountered the man and in that encounter, they wanted to follow Him.  As the Lord called Samuel’s name, so too, He calls each of us by name.  When we respond to that call, we encounter the eternal essence of love and a desire deep in our being never wants to be separated from Him who calls us.

Does the Lord only call a few?  If we believe that Jesus died once for all, then why would He only call a few?  If He desired to be in relationship with each of us and to build community, do you think He would leave some behind?  The Lord does not call a few but He invites everyone into an intimate relationship with Him and the Father and the blessed Trinity.

In October 1978, I was attending a gathering of the Charismatic renewal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  I wasn’t attending because I wanted to be there, but my wife asked if I would accompany her to the conference.  My plan was to drop her off and pick her up.  While she was at the conference, my intention was to go fishing.  But the Lord had other plans.

On Friday evening, my wife asked me to stay, since I couldn’t fish at night.  So, I gave in and attended the conference.  We arrived late and I was thankful there were no seats available, but a friendly usher found us seats in the first row.  I was fine with the situation until the people began to pray in tongues.  It shook me to the core of my being, not so much because I found it extremely strange, but because I felt a force reaching out to me and that was frightening.  I ran outside to try to escape whatever was happening. 

The next morning, we attended the next session, and I was now curious to find out what had happened the night before.  The guest speaker was a priest, and he gave the most inspiring talk I ever heard.  It was enjoyable but as Augustine said, “I had an aroma of God but was not ready to eat.”

That evening we watched the conference on television because one of our diocesan priests was speaking.  We tuned in and instead of the priest, this feeble little woman, who was all of four feet tall, with a heavy Russian accent, came out to speak.   It was a woman named Catherine Dougherty.  I couldn’t begin to tell you what she said, but by the time she was finished, I wanted what she had.

The next morning, we attended Mass at the conference.  I was not a particularly good practicing Catholic, but I felt the urge or better yet the need to be there.  The music started and a multitude of deacons began walking down the aisle.  In that moment, in my heart, I believed I would see Jesus walking in procession behind them. Jesus was there in Word and Sacrament and the people.  In that moment He touched me, and I will never be the same.

I relate this story because we never know when the Lord will call us.  But His calling is not to a task that is overwhelming, or something we cannot handle.  The calling is a reaching out and drawing us into the divine life of Jesus Himself.  Jesus humbled Himself by taking on our humanity and He ask of us to humble ourselves to share in His divinity.  At my Mass of Thanksgiving after my ordination, I was asked to say a few words to the people attending.  I told them what was in my heart and I related how the Lord had called me to be more than I ever thought I could be, to do more than I ever thought I could do, and to walk further in faith than I ever thought I could walk. I call this a close encounter of the right kind.

In this day and age, Jesus is calling disciples, who. inspired by the Holy Spirit, are called to be His presence in the world.  We are called to build community by allowing ourselves to be loved more by God and then sharing that love with all we meet and pray for.  We are called, through our faith, to be light in the darkness.  hope when there is despair, and love when there is division.  We can do this because Jesus is our brother, and we call God Father in the assembly of the faithful through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Listen!  Listen in the silence of your heart.  Know the warmth of God’s love.  Filled with the love of God, embrace others, as God has embraced us.  He is always ready to touch our hearts.  May with let God touch us and may we never be the same.

May God continue to bless you and your families

Deacon Phil