Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
If you’re like me, you tend to think of biblical figures like Moses as giants of the faith. People like Moses, King David, Deborah, Isaiah, Esther, Jeremiah, St Paul, the Twelve Apostles – they seem like spiritual super-heroes. I think we often view the saints the same way; somehow, they seem larger than life. Sometimes we place godly priests, religious, and other professionally trained religious leaders on the same pedestal. If we’re not careful, we begin to feel inferior, like we can’t measure up. It’s good to have role models to respect and desire to emulate, but we have to recognize that these mentors are frail, fragile humans who fall short just like we do. We share the same weaknesses, we suffer the same hardships, we face the same challenges. We also share a common calling: to love God and love neighbor and follow God’s summons to serve.
God called to Moses from a burning bush. God may not speak to us through such a dramatic medium, but God does indeed speak, and in fact never ceases speaking to us. God tells Moses that his assignment, his divine appointment, is to lead his people from slavery into freedom, from oppression into promise. Moses immediately objects, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Have you ever had this experience – sensing God calling you to do something and feeling unworthy, ill-equipped, or overwhelmed? The biblical giants all share this common human experience. Scripture gives us many “call stories,” narratives relating individuals’ unique experiences hearing God’s summons. One of my favorites is Gideon. You can read his story in Judges 6. Gideon was afraid and hiding out in a winepress because his people and community were being severely oppressed. An angel of the Lord appears and greets him as “mighty warrior!” There was absolutely nothing warrior-like about Gideon, yet God saw his inner strength. God says, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Gideon responds, “But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” God promises Gideon the same thing he said to Moses, “I will be with you . . .” God does not abandon us; God will never leave us nor forsake us. God promises to remain with us. God’s presence is not an abstract concept, God’s presence is tangible, comforting, and empowering.
Moses and Gideon are just two examples of people who heard God’s voice and God’s call and then resisted God because they felt unworthy. When you hear God’s voice and resist the call, where does that hesitation come from within you? Is it fear? Is it feelings of inadequacy? Let’s reflect on that today to increase our self-awareness and begin to overcome our resistance. Throughout scripture, God repeats the loving assurance, I will be with you. I’ve noticed that frequently in the daily readings, the refrain to the responsorial psalm and sometimes the Gospel alleluia is “today, if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8). I think the Church knows that we need this constant reminder to be receptive to God’s voice and to God’s constant call.
God does not just call some people; God calls all of us. Our baptism functions as our “ordination” to ministry. As baptized members of the Body of Christ we each have a unique call to serve. Each of us have a function within the Body. St Peter writes, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). Each one – not just the spiritual super heroes! I’ve heard it said many times, “God does not call the equipped; God equips the called.” Can we trust that just like God appoints and equips the members of our physical bodies to fulfill their unique function, God will give us everything we need to follow his voice and fulfill our call.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that it is the childlike, not the wise and learned, who can receive the things of God. Hallelujah! What a comforting truth! Can I really just relax in my human weakness, with my limitations and insecurities, and come to God as his child? Can I listen for God’s voice from this posture of frailty? Yes! Yes, I can, and you can, too! Let’s pray today for receptivity to listen for God’s voice and the courage to follow his call, whatever that is today. Is your call to speak a word of hope to a co-worker? Is your call to phone a friend who’s going through a hard time? Is your call to pursue reconciliation with a family member? Is your call to serve as a catechist in the parish? Is your call to contribute financially more generously to charity? Is your call to offer hospitality to your neighbors? Is your call to pray? What is your call today?
Who am I that I should go . . .? Who are you NOT to go?!