Called to Be ....
A dear friend pulled me aside one Sunday after
mass and said “Bill have you ever thought about becoming a Deacon?” That
question began discernment on the plan God had for me.
Discernment is an interesting thing. It’s
hearing God speak to your heart; “I have a plan for you, trust me.” And, asking
“What does God want of me?”
Discernment is self-discovery of Christ - Emmanuel, God is with us.
I knew Him as my Lord and savior. I knew He
forgave me my sins. I knew He was always there; but, I had to ask the question.
“Do I want to be holy or do I want to be bad?”
That is the story of King Ahaz. The Lord called out to
Ahaz. I have a plan for you. Ahaz faced the choice, follow God’s
plan or follow my own. Ahaz's problem was he didn't want Isaiah’s prophesying.
God’s plan intruded on what he wanted to do. Rejecting the Lord, Ahaz became a weak and idolatrous
king. His story did not end well.
Joseph had a similar choice. Follow God’s plan
or follow his own. Joseph’s problem was his betrothed was with child. He
had to make a choice. He had to discern what was right and Joseph was a righteous man.
If Joseph divorced Mary publicly, he would
expose the unwed and pregnant girl. According to the Law, she would be stoned.
If he married her they both could be disgraced. He decided to divorce her
quietly, go to her parents and break the marriage contract. Joseph had plans of
his own, and they didn’t include a pregnant woman, a child that was not his, or
the whispers, rumors, and laughing behind his back.
An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his
sleep, telling him, “God has a plan for you!” It was not a wakeful moment; the
Angel of the Lord spoke to his subconscious, his heart, and his righteousness.
Unlike Ahaz, Joseph abandoned his plan and followed God’s.
Joseph’s discernment of God’s plan was
important. It was part of how Jesus Christ came to be born. He knew
God’s plan was bigger than his. They shall call him “Emmanuel, God is with us.”
Paul called himself a slave of Christ Jesus, called to an apostle. We know the story of Paul’s discernment. He had
to be blinded for his eyes to be open so he could examine himself and see God’s
call. He died to his old self and found new life in Christ.
Jesus once said, “He who would save his life must lose it.”
Discernment is not about being a Priest, a
Deacon, or entering a consecrated religious life. God’s plan for each of us is
unique as each of us is unique. Each fingerprint is unique so is the way we
touch the world. Our love, our holiness, and how we live the Good News is the
fingerprint of God’s plan in our lives.
Paul wrote to the Romans about discernment. It
was to receive the grace of
apostleship; called to belong to Jesus Christ; and called to be holy. He was telling the Romans, “God is with us,” and
“Do not be afraid, God has a plan for you.”
Joseph was called to be Jesus earthly father. And he realize Emmanuel, God is with us. When we are
distressed by the overwhelming task of bringing God’s plan of compassion and
justice to those in need, realize God is with us. When we are worried and
desperate, or about to lose hope, God is with us. We discover God is truly with
us by choosing to live as we are called to be ...
Prayer is an important part of this choice. By
prayer, we open our hearts, minds, and moral conscious to God. Whoever seeks
Christ in this way and prays in this way, opens the way for Christ to come
again and again.
God will send someone, a prophet or an Angel,
whether we recognize them or not. They will tell us, “Do not be afraid, God has a plan for you.”
In my life I’ve had many Angels; one was Chuck
Miller. He said “God has a plan for you!” He woke me up to God’s plan.
Called to be ..... Yes, this is how Jesus Christ comes.
Yall be good, yall be holy and live the gospel
by the way you live and love. Amen.
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