A Difficult Vocation - Homily Reflection 2nd Sunday OTB

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever.

I am always looking for something - usually, it’s my wallet or my keys. Earlier this week, my grandson was walking through the house, holding his "sippy" cup in one hand and a cookie in the other.  He asks “Where is my cup? Have you seen my cup?”

His mother says “Silly Liam, it’s in your hand.”  He laughs - Ha Ha Ha – I’m like poppy. He takes in everything how I love and even my faults and failures. My friends the whole world is watching our Christian family that is the Body of Christ, taking it all in.

Samuel was just a child and not familiar with the LORD; but he was taking it all in - the temple, the priest, the worship, and the words of the prophet Eli.  He was sleeping in the temple when he heard God speaking to him. The prophet Eli, said answer a certain way. He took those words into his heart and when the LORD called out, Samuel answered “Speak Lord your servant is listening." Samuel took it all in to his heart and from that point on, the Lord was with him not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

Two of John’s disciples took it all in when John pointed to Jesus and said “Behold the Lamb of God.” They followed after Jesus. Jesus said to them “Come, and you will see.” And they went and stayed with him and took all that he said and all that he did into their hearts.

Samuel and the disciples took it all in and found the LORD. They took it all in and it changed them.  

Joined with God through the Holy Spirit, Samuel and the first disciples realized their vocation. All the people of God are given the same vocation. That vocation found in God is love. “God is love.”

All who follow Christ are given the perfect example of that vocation. Come and see - Love is where Jesus stays. Our vocation in Jesus is to give love and have love for all.

It is a difficult vocation.

It is hard for humanity in its imperfection to love. Even as Christians we fail to truly love as Christ wants us to love.

Look at what Christians have put out in the public forum in the past year. It is as if so many have forgotten love. In a time of pandemic and suffering when so many need prayer, love, and compassion, the most important thing for many is political party or agenda.

And everyone around us is taking it all in.

They take it in as Priest and ministers preach politics instead of love. Good and beautiful people have forgotten love and spout unpleasant ugliness. Politics are more important than people. 

The sin of this world demands people take sides and agitate. Instead of showing love, sin leads us to judge and condemn others. Surely we cannot love them. They’ve got flaws. They believe differently and because of that; God cannot love them.

People put a limit on God’s love; but, that limit is humanly created. It is a human idea that destroys others by humiliation and degradation.

Humiliating and degrading human dignity is immoral. It is wicked. It is failing our God given vocation of love. St. Paul calls it sin against others and sin against our own self.

God’s truth is His love has no limits. Love comes from God. He is its source. God is the completeness and perfection of love. And since God is love then we, his followers, who are born of God, will also love

Tomorrow, we celebrate as a country the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday. One of his most famous quotes great civil rights leader is “I have decided to stick with love. ...” He chose to bring change through love.

Friends, to truly fight for justice, equality, and change; we must love.

Although we are all imperfect and struggling against the voice of this world answer Jesus’ call to follow his love -  Here I am Lord.

Our vocation is to share God’s love. It should be our message. Samuel spoke and his words were never without effect. Andrew ran to tell others come and see,  “We have found Christ”

Everyone (country, community, neighbors, family, our children) is watching and hearing everything we do. They see how we act; what we say; and how we love one another. They take it all in, even our faults and failures.

In the life we live, Is it love they see?

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.