Jan 15^th, 2006

1 Sam 3 :3-10,19 Psalm 40 1. Co. 6: 13-15, 17-20 John 1: 35-42

1. There are a lot of “name callings” in our readings today. “Samuel, Samuel”, then Jesus calls Simon by the name of Cephas. John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God, the disciples call him Rabbi, and Andrew calls him the Messiah. The significance of calling a person by name is lost in our day and age. But it was very important and still is in the Middle East. A name expressed a persons character. But more importantly a name called a person into a relationship. In this case it was a relationship with God. Called by name meant your vocation was described. This was not merely a task, a job you did, but a way of life to which you dedicated all your days.

2. When we speak of Vocation today we often think of it as a Vocation or calling to the priesthood. This is for two reasons. The first is “shortage”. We hardly ever think of a shortage of vocations to the Married state, to the vocation of being Single, perhaps even to religious life. We do not think of shortages in the call to be a sister, or to be a religious like the Basilians, Oblates, Redemptorists or Jesuits. These orders might consider that they do not have many vocations themselves - but looking at this parish with seven Jesuits, who would think we have a shortage. However, we are always complaining that there are not enough Priests. The second reason we think of the Vocation as connected with the priesthood because of the importance we give, the centrality of the Eucharist.

Recently, a parish was being closed down, and an old lady who did not speak English very well, came up, held the priests hands in her own and said “who will do Mass for me?” the pleading in her eyes said everything. Recently when we had a snow fall and the ground was very slippery with slush and ice, I called my mother and told her not to venture out of the house. But she said, I have to go for Mass. I can hardly relate to this because as a priest I can celebrate Mass any time and any where, but you have taught me how important the Mass is in your lives.

3. But coming back to Samuel and the Baptist, the Vocation or calling is for everyone. The call of God is persistent and on going through the ages. The Call is for people of different ages, different ethnic groups, both sexes, and different sexual orientations. There is but one call and one mission.

 The greatest number of people are called to married life. We do not have the “Fiddler on the Roof” scenario today. Reb Teyva says to his wife Golda, “the first time I met you was on our wedding day.” The most basic call to Marriage is the attraction one feels to another. (Now do not come and quarrel with me after Mass saying, this is not my experience) - we have a gut feeling that this is the person with whom I want to spend my life. We do NOT do courses like Marriage 101, parenting 101, Sex 101, Communications 101, Finances 101. But we do get married and all these elements are there to make a successful marriage.

4. The other vocation is the Vocation to a Single Life. Some one has said, “Some people are born to Fame, others achieve Fame, and still others have Fame thrust upon them.” the Vocation to the Single Life in my small experience of priestly life is that the Vocation to the Single Life is thrust upon people. The two main examples are that of the young emigrant. People emigrate when they are young enough to start a new life. This is also the age to get married. However, in a new country their first decade is spent getting a job, getting a place to life, paying all the bills. They have little or no time to spend with other young people who could possibly be their wives/husbands. So many are in their late thirties, early forties when they could possibly get married.

 The other situation is a call to a Single life by people who spend their lives carrying for aged or ailing parents. By the time the parents die or are confined a nursing home, again these people find themselves past the biological age to have children. Finally, there are the single who are separated or divorced and they embrace the single life and hope to do God’s will. And then there are the few who realise that just because they are physically capable of generating children does not mean they are called to be parents and choose the Single life.

5. Whatever the call, there are always three elements present in every Vocation. First the Call, second the Mission, third the response. Let me explain by the example of the Apostles.

a. Judas was called, Judas replied with generosity, but the Mission that Jesus proposed and the one understood by Judas was different, and hence he failed.

b. The Apostles were called, the Apostles understood the Mission, but their response was poor. They ran away when the going got tough. It was only when the Spirit came down at Pentecost, would they answer with generosity.

c. Paul the Apostle had a mission to be faithful to Yahweh, he answered with generosity. Breathing fire, he followed his quest. But he was not Called - until he was knocked down on the Road to Damascus.

6. And so whether we are called in the middle of the night like Samuel, or we have our name changed like Peter, we too are called because we are special and God has a special calling for each one of us, no matter what our age, no matter what our qualification, no matter what our sexual orientation, no matter how rich or poor. Am I going to be generous enough to say like Samuel, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” The emphasis is on hearing the Word of the Lord. The second emphasis is on being a servant. Our first reading ends with those incredible words, “the Lord was with Samuel and let none of his words fall to the ground.” May we be as faithful in the Lord’s service no matter what our Vocation, our calling may be.