What would you answer if someone asked you, “what is your calling in life?” OR “what is your ‘call story’?” What would you answer? How would you answer?
Several years ago Lilly Endowment funded a research team that studied sense of vocation and calling with those preparing for ordained ministry and the communities that they serve. Few of the parishioners felt that the hours spent at work mattered to God or the church much less make a difference in the world or even in their communities. Many did not see a direct connection between what they do and what they believe. This leads to a feeling of not being called. 1
When people say to me, “I wish I could do something like you do” as if what I do is somehow more meaningful than their current profession, I get very sad. Because what you do is no less important than what I do and in many ways what you do is so much more important than what I do. We’re all children of God – and that makes us equally loved, cherished, valuable and called.
This brings us to our scripture reading from this past week: Matthew 4:12-23. Jesus is responding to his call and also calling others to be a part of the mission that God has given him.
John the Baptist’s call lead to his imprisonment and eventual beheading. Jesus withdraws off of the beaten path, not to run from Herod, but to retreat to listen and respond to God’s call. Then Jesus calls the crowd to repent, to turn around and go the opposite direction, and to be a part of the proclamation of the kingdom.
He then goes on to call the disciples who will be encouraged to fish for people by casting God’s net of love and grace that gathers anyone and everyone on whom it falls.
Not everyone’s calling is the same. Only four in the crowd were called to be part of the Jesus’ closest 12. But that didn’t make all those other calls less important or needed. They were just different.
Perhaps we’ve gotten the cart before the horse. Before there is “doing” there is “being.” 2
Think about Jesus and how he was prepared for the monumental ministry that he was embarking on. Before anything got started, Jesus fully understood who and whose he was. He knew who he was. He knew and understood where he belonged and what he was about to do. He knew what to be before he moved on to “do”.
John, too, knew and understood how he fit into the picture. He knew that he was called to prepare the way for Jesus. He knew what to be before he moved on to “do.”
Peter, Andrew, James and John – did they know fully what they were getting themselves into? Did they have any idea what it meant to be “fishers of men?” What they DID know was that Jesus chose them – these ordinary fishermen – Jesus saw something in them and chose them. They didn’t know exactly what they were to do but they knew what to be at that moment.
First and foremost we are called to be children of God. And when God calls us children of God that means we are valued and honored and loved. We are called to “be” before we move onto to “do.”
So how do we figure out what to “do” after we get our heads around “be.” Does that mean that we will intrinsically know what we called to do? In truth it can take a lifetime to discern. I didn’t get a clear picture until I was well into my 30s. Add to all of this that there are many ways to respond to God’s call – numerous was to “do”.
We come each week to hear God’s word, to splash in the bath and be reminded of our baptism and to be nourished by the one who love us more than anything – Jesus Christ. Living out our baptismal promises through our words and deed. One of the places that this happens is in our relationships.
However God may use us, it is important to remember that first God calls us to BE. God has called us to BE his children. God has called us to BE his BELOVED children. And this is where we belong. From there, we can trust that God has got this…and that it will be OK.
But what about our communities of faith – what does this mean to all of us? What is God calling us to be and do in this place?
God is calling HTLC to BE a gathering place for those whom God loves. God is calling HTLC is to BE a place that welcomes the least, the last, the lonely, the lost and the left behind. God is calling HTLC to BE a place of acceptance. God is calling HTLC that not only welcomes all – because all means all. And not just welcome all but invite and include.
And God is calling HTLC be a place where God’s word is taught, where the good news of the kingdom is proclaimed, where we splash in the waters of baptism and are nourished at the table, where all can find healing and a peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus heard his identity proclaimed at the River Jordan and then went to work proclaiming the kingdom and inviting all that would hear to turn towards the kingdom.
Dear church, beloved children of God, we too hear our identity. From that moment on, make no mistake, from the youngest to the oldest, God calls us to be at work in his kingdom, right here on earth.
We are the church – not this building, not this place – but us gathered together are the church along with millions of others.
All of us are God’s beloved children, showered in the grace and love of a God who loves so very much, a God who wants us to turn toward the kingdom and proclaim that love and grace to a world that needs to hear it.
1http://www.davidlose.net/2017/01/epiphany-3-a-being-before-doing
2Ibid.