Your Call - Homily Reflection - 3rd Sunday OTB

 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012124.cfm

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

This is Word of God Sunday. All of us are called to share the word of God, but how are we doing it.

When young, we all dream of what we are going to do when we grow up. My 5 years old grandson will tell you he wants to build things.

In everyday life, a person may be called to health care, emergency response, educators, engineers/builders, business people, farmers or just good parents. No matter if they are called to be astronauts or garbage men, in all aspect of life people make an impact on the people and place around them.

Some hear a call to be clergy, religious, and priests going where God sends them to bring Gods message. Even though, they know God is calling, some go where God sends them hesitantly.

That is true even of God’s chosen prophets. Moses said, “I too old, look at my history, and this is too big a job.”  Isaiah said, “I am a man of unclean lips and unclean people. “ Amos told God, “I am just a farmer. I tend herds and maintain the crops.”  Jerimiah protested, “I’m too young. I can’t speak well” And, even “Lord you tricked me.”

When God calls, we face a crossroad in life. Yet a response to God is a response. The response may be to ignore God and continue as if God does not really matter, or does not really care. Maybe, the response is to believe God does not really exist at all.

The other road is to open yourself to God and respond to the call with a willingness to trust and obey.  If you do this, one leaves their old life behind for a new life. You will not be who you were before. You will be a new person in God and for God.

Even though the Lord calls us to follow him, it is not always an easy road.

God called Jonah and told him to bring a message to the people of Nineveh.  However, Jonah did not like the people of Nineveh.  Nineveh was the Capital of Assyria; the country had recently conquered Israel.

Jonah was at a cross roads in life and had to make a choice. Jonah’s choice was to run away from God.

We know the story. He got on a boat. A storm came up. He told everybody it might be his fault since he was running from God. The crew got scared and threw him overboard. Swallowed by the great fish, a whale, he was in its belly for 3 days.

A person cannot get away from God; even in the belly of a great fish. God saved him making the fish spit him out on the shore near Nineveh. God told him bring my word to the people of Nineveh.

Jonah did as God commanded.  He did it hesitantly. He drug his feet. Nineveh was a great city that took 3 days to walk across. Jonah only made one.

God’s message was heard. The people believed and repented. They responded to God’s word with a willingness to trust and obey. In obedience to God, they repented of their former ways and became a people that was different from the people they had been. The city became a different city and place from the one it had been.

In the Gospel - Andrew and Simon, as well as the sons of Zebedee, James and John, are called by Jesus to “change their ways.” Their ways were not necessarily bad. They heard his words “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

They abandoned their nets. Left their boats and families. Almost impulsively, followed Jesus.

It seems an unlikely choice to call these simple fishermen. However, responding to Jesus’ words with trust and obedience, they ceased to be what they were— they became very different people from the people they had been.

Jesus left them the fire of the Holy Spirit. He told them to bring the gospel to the whole world. The people they shared the Word with became different people. The cities and places they visited became different cities and places from the ones they had been.

Friends, Jesus’ call to bring the word of God to all the world was not just for Simon, Andrew, James, and John, but for us as well.

You can ignore the call and continue as if God does not really matter; or does not really care; or does not really exist.  Or, you can respond with love that is a willingness to trust and obey. 

Responding to Jesus’ words with trust and obedience, we become new creations. Grace allows us to turn our life completely to God. To realize the call is to bring the good news of Jesus Christ that can change the people and places around us, and the world.

Be good be holy and preach the gospel in the way you are call to in the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

Our Response to God - Reflection 2nd Sunday - OTB

 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011424.cfm

Raphael - The Miraculous Draft of Fishes - 

Google Art Project.jpg 

Public Domain - Wikimedia Commons

Praise be Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

God is always trying to draw near to us; calling to us in our hearts.  It is true even places like our small community. Baptisms are scheduled. Our OCIA team is mentoring a group of young people at the university.  Today, I had 3 additional inquiries about the sacraments of initiation. This week, Diocese of Shreveport will be hosting Diaconate Inquiry and Discernment meetings.

God continually calls to us. How do we answer? Our response to God's call is a response no matter if we answer that call or ignore it.

Samuel, dedicated to God by his mother before he was even born, was sleeping on the floor in the temple of the ark of God. When God called out to Samuel. 

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” But, Samuel was not familiar with the LORD because God had not revealed himself; so, he looked to someone else to answer.

Luckily, he had Eli who pointed him I the right direction.

When the Lord revealed his presence, Samuel answered God’s call “Speak for your servant is listening. This young man was ready to serve.

In the Gospel, two were following Jesus because they had heard John tell them about Jesus “Behold the Lamb of God”

Jesus called to them first – “What are you looking for?” That question contains so much.

They had no idea how to answer him so they had this great response “where are you staying?” The two were not familiar with Jesus, because he had not revealed anything to them as yet.

John had pointed these two in the right direction when he told them about Jesus “Behold the Lamb of God”

In an awkward way, we are not sure if they asked the right or the wrong question; but, they did ask the right person.

Jesus does not tell them where he's staying. He says, "Come and see."

Jesus answers those who come to him in faith and with a pure heart. Remember to have faith and ask the right questions. Contemplate what you are seeking. The Lord will give the right answer.

God calls us to know him. God continually calls to us. Sometimes we can get lost if we do not have the right person to guide us,  we can look in the wrong place. When the LORD called out to Samuel, he went first to Eli. Eli pointed him in the right direction.

Andrew and Philip followed John and John pointed them in the right direction.

What is our response to God’s calling to us? Are we looking in the wrong place? In the 2nd letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul tells the church at Corinth that many of its members are looking for God in a wrong place.

Our body is God’s temple. In our body, our heart, our soul is where we respond to God.  In this body, which exists in this world, we are called to respond to God. Our response to God's call is a response. It can glorify God or sin against God.

Remember, we still need directions to the right person. That is the Church. It is the sacraments. It is our answer to God’s call to us.

Do we respond humbly, “Here I am Lord?” Or do we say, God come back later, I’m too busy?  Our response to God's call is a response.

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

Praise be Jesus Christ forever & ever. Amen.

An Invitation to Conversion - Homily - First Friday Celebration Jan 2024

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010524.cfm

Public Domain -
Alessandro Magnasco

Yesterday's gospel  told of how Philip and Andrew left John the Baptist to follow Jesus. When Jesus turned around and asked what they wanted, they answered, “Where do you stay?” Jesus invited them to “Come and see” 

Later, Andrew found his brother Simon Peter saying “We have found the Messiah.”  Although it does not say it in the Gospel, Andrew may have said to his brother, “Come and see!” and he took Simon to see Jesus.

In today’s Gospel, Nathaniel asks Philip “can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip’s answer, “Come and see,” and then he took Nathaniel to see Jesus.

The invitation” come and see” from the Gospel of John points to an invitation to know Jesus that requires something of us. The invitation is not see and come. Philip, Andrew, Simon, and Nathaniel left where they were to come to Jesus. It is about conversion - metanoia - change 

God knows us and knows our heart. Jesus saw Nathaniel coming and knew what was in his heart before Nathaniel was even invited by Philip to “Come and see.”

It took a brief encounter with Jesus for Andrew to bring the message, “We have found Christ!” After only a few moments, Nathaniel stated “You are the son of God, the king of Israel.” 

“Come and see” is both an invitation and a promise. “Come and see,” I will take you to Him.“Come and see.” I will walk with you.  The “come and see” of conversion is contagious.

When a person comes to God through Jesus Christ, they share it with others. They share with the ones they love. They share it with friends. Our conversion shares the peace and joy that the love of knowing Jesus brings to our hearts. Others, who see peace, joy, and love in use, will be intrigued. They will want to know Jesus who offers this.

Come and see by prayer, adoration, in the eucharist, and by love. Come and see God who knows us and draws near to us through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He wants us to know him. He invites us to “come and see.”

We share the invitation and promise “come and see.” We are to love one another. By that love, Jesus sends us to invite others “come and see” and then walk with them. 

Reflection 1/2/2024 - Who are you? What is your Purpose?

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010224.cfm

John the Baptist by Anton Van Dyck (public domain)

The people sent Priest and Levites to John and asked him, "Who are you? What is your purpose?"

John could have said he was many things; yet, he said he was nothing more than a witness of one far greater . John's life was not centered on self. He committed his life to changing the world for God as a voice proclaiming the Word.

Who are you?  What is your purpose? These are question to ask ourselves. Each person should examine self, their actions, and desires.  

Is my life centered on self or is it center in Christ?  Is my deepest identity love? Pray about it.

Probably not too many of us will answer that we are nothing. In this world not many will say the thing they live for is the Lord.

Our answer is found in the response to the peoples whose lives we cross every day. As Christian witnesses, our lives must be lived for others just like Jesus'. 

Our answers are proclaimed in choices made in facing everyday worldly situations and circumstances. If we walk with the Lord, we answer with love using the situations and circumstances of everyday life wisely to serve God and others. 

Proclaiming to follow Christ but failing to live a life of love for Christ is a lie. Actions deny Christ as strongly as words. 

Who are you? What is your purpose? 

These are questions to truthfully answer by prayer.  Without prayer, our witness is empty. Without prayer, we stray from God. Pray to be strong enough to witness for one far greater than ourselves. Reflect the light of Christ into the darkness of the world. Be a voice that proclaims the Word of God.

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.