Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
It is not uncommon for people to ask, “How did you decide to become a priest?” My answer often is a big sigh! First of all, it is a complex story. I find it hard to talk about my call to priesthood either as a casual conversation or a conversation that is time-constrained. The second reason is that my decision to become a priest was unlike Jeremiah’s call in today’s first reading. I did not hear voices or see visions. I was a teenager trying to figure out what to do. I did not even know if I wanted to be a priest. I simply wanted to try it out, and then, year after year, for twelve years continued to plough on. On the way, I faltered, I fell, I got up and fell again, and.… here I am today. Today, almost twenty-two years back, as I look back at my priesthood, I realize that this is my calling. The peace I have in the depth of my being… that is what assured me of my call.
Today’s reading revolve around the theme of “the call.” First, there is the concept of the call - the idea that God sets aside chosen people to accomplish very specific tasks. Second, the second reading not only talks about love but also defines love in the most descriptive way. At first, it seems that this reading does not fit into the themes for today. Dig a little deeper, we realize that love is also a calling. Third, recognizing God’s call is only one step of the journey; the challenges associated with the call is a completely different ball game.
Here are my three points for today:
The Call. The concept of “the call” has both generic and particular implications. On a generic level, the entire nation of Israel was chosen and called by by God. Numerous Old Testament passages tell us that Israel was chosen not because she was powerful, worthy or necessarily cultured. In fact, they were mere slaves. God called Israel to be God’s instrument. In the manner in which Israel would conduct is religious, political and social affairs, God’s wisdom and power would be revealed to the rest of the world. Sometimes, Israel lived up to this calling but most of the time she failed. It is in this context that the more particular prophetic office emerges. Prophets like Jeremiah were called because Israel as a nation failed to live up to her generic calling. Either the leaders of the nations or the nation itself had violated the Covenant or were living contrary to the laws prescribed by God. Thus the prophetic office was call within the call. The coming of Jesus is an extension of the prophetic call. We have numerous New Testament passages that suggest when the prophetic call went unheeded, God sent God’s son, Jesus. Even though, Jesus is not merely a prophet, his mission included the prophetic task of calling people to fidelity. Jesus came to call Israel to her original Covenant.
Love: The Prophetic Call. The above two points brings the reflection to us. What does God’s generic call and the more particular prophetic call mean for us? First of all, in the same way that Israel was called by God, so too is the Church. What is the Church’s generic calling? Today’s second reading has the answer. Paul says, “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The generic call of the church is LOVE. Paul description of LOVE becomes an invitation to believers on how the generic call to love must be lived out by individual believers. Paul says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, pompous, inflated, or rude. It does not seek its own interests, is not quick-tempered, does not brood over injury, does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Paul would emphasize the absolute necessity of LOVE characterizing christian life by saying, “If I speak in human and angelic tongues, if I have all faith so as to move mountains, and if I give away everything I own but do not have love, I am resounding gong, a clashing symbol, and I am nothing.” To live out Paul’s description is the most prophetic thing that the Church and Christians can do today. This is what Pope Francis means by asking the church to be a Church of Mercy.
The Rejection of the Prophet. The mood of today’s first reading and gospel reading make us aware of the challenge of the prophetic office. Prophets like, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Amos and the rest boldly and fearlessly called the nation and its rulers to fidelity. They were uncompromising in the way they lived out their call. In fact, most of the prophets met with staunch opposition, persecution and ultimately death. The fate of Jesus was not any different. Today’s gospel reading describes the initial rejection of Jesus which began in his own hometown. You would think that if you are the most loving person that you would be the most loved person. The prophets life and Jesus’ life teach us that this is not the case. Evil is powerful. Rebellion is real. Selfishness is easier. Self-preservation is a forceful instinct. Conversion is difficult. In our world, it is possible that the most loving person becomes the most opposed person. This is an irony, but it is true. If you love sincerely, expect to be opposed. It is part of the prophetic calling. Even Pope Francis is not spared.
Let us end this homily with the opening prayer for today’s mass: “Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
- Fr. Satish Joseph