Christopher J. Drennen, O.S.A.
Malvern Preparatory School
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Readings
Is 49:3, 5-6
Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
1 Cor 1:1-3
Jn 1:29-34
Here I am Lord! I’m right over here waiting to find out what I need to do! Although we do not always use those words, we often feel we have to call out to God to let him know we are here.The Psalmist in the Scripture today gets excited about the call of the Lord. He has experienced the presence of God and wants to serve the Lord. We often want to feel the presence of God, but less often do we get excited about serving the Lord. Our own needs seem to be so many that we forget the call to serve.
Isaiah and Paul both recognize that they are servants of God, filled with the Spirit and ready to go forth to be people for and with others. It takes the call of God first to recognize we are servants of the Lord. And he is calling each and every one of us to hear and respond.
The Gospel today continues the theme of being called and recognizing God’s call. The story focuses on John the Baptist who is called to prepare a way for the Lord. When he encounters Jesus he gets excited and proclaims that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He goes even further and proclaims Jesus is the very Son of God.
Where are we being called? Where do we experience the presence of Jesus in the world today? How do we serve the Lord? All these questions do not have easy answers because they require faith and the Holy Spirit to lead us. We need to take the time and listen. We need to take the time to know ourselves and remember that we have been formed by God from the very beginning. We need to be calling out “Here I am Lord; I come to do your will.” And then listen some more in the silence of our inner self and wait for the Spirit to inspire us.
We can hear the call when we listen in silence. It might not be the call we want or expect, but God is faithful and will answer our prayer. We will know it is the Lord when we grow in confidence and clarity. We will recognize him in the Body of Christ directing and guiding us. We will find consolation in the words of those around us and in the words of Scripture. We can discern the call of the Lord through constant affirmation when we go deep within and find the peace that he will grant us.
What if we are wrong? What if we answer a call that is not from the Lord but from other powers and influences in the world? We stop, listen and start again. A Christian who is listening and praying and calling upon the Lord cannot fail in God’s eyes. We might stumble and get off the track, but the call of the Lord is strong and will bring us back if we just listen and pray.
Here I am Lord! These words of the Scripture need to be our words. When we open ourselves to service will get the direction we are seeking. God has called so many before us he has shown us the way. Keep open and listen, and let the Lord draw us to himself and to his people. God is always faithful. Let us be always open and seeking.
