Hearing God’s Call
From last week: Being in tune with the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the companionship of Christ, you begin to discern the presence of God in all things. Hearing God’s Call For many people of faith, Hearing God’s Call is alternately a source of mystery, frustration, confusion, and hope. God is calling each of us to a certain “Way” of life–a general Call, and to a specific mission in the moment. The general Call is often discounted precisely because it is not specific. As we read and hear the Bible read aloud, we become aware that through repetition, circumstances and living examples God makes it clear that we are to love others, care for the poor, and live our lives in such a way that we point to the power of the Gospel. In too many places to list here, God sets forth the plan of living as people of faith. The Prophet Micah proclaims, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8b To act justly is not simply a reference to how justice is dispensed through the court, it is an expectation of a way of thinking. To be just is to see the world and all the circumstances of life fairly, to seek the good, the right in all things. To love mercy, the Hebrew word is hesed, which means “loyal love” or “loving-kindness,” is not to simply dispense it when circumstances are right, but live in it, for it. Both justice and mercy are foundational to God’s character as is written in Psalm 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before You.” God expected His people to show love to everyone and to be loyal in their love toward Him, just as He had been loyal to them (Micah 2:8-9; 3:10-11; 6:12). As we listen for the specific Call we so long for it is important to be living into the general Way of life God expects of us. As I said last week, Being in tune with the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the companionship of Christ, you begin to discern the presence of God in all things. We have heard these words before, “Surrender to God’s will.” “Surrender” sounds strange to us; we are never taught to surrender and this is why it is so important for us to do it. To surrender to God is simply let go. You have done this before many times, perhaps when traveling on a delayed flight, or in a waiting room somewhere, or standing in line at the grocery store. You, after a period of stress or frustration, simply said, “Oh well,”and it was over. Like exhaling, you breathed out your stress and accepted what was happening for as long as it took–this is surrendering. Surrender to God, follow God. Love God. Love others the way that Jesus loves you, He is our example of godly living. Can you imagine how different life would be if every human being found their meaning, purpose and identity in Christ's love and claimed the call and mission over their lives? Wow! That would change everything. When you do this, when you live like this, God gets to be God and you get to live stress free. You don't have to be anxious about anything because it's all within the framework of what Jesus said and did. Living this Way opens the heart and spirit to the will of God and the Call to a specific mission. The Call to specific mission can come out of the blue, unexpected and un-sought as it was for Amos, he explained to Amazia, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet, but a herdsman and a grower of sycamore trees. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’ (7:14-15) The reality is that Amos was a holy and righteous man in tune with God. Amos, like Mary when she was called to bear the Son of God, was in tune with God to start with. Surrender enables the Holy Spirit to flow in and through us in a manner in which we know the divine presence. Surrendering to God makes it possible for us to perceive the will of God through the presence and power of God, it is not our effort, it is God’s Call. “You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.” John 15:16 Discerning the Will of God and his Calling in our lives is first and foremost about building a closer relationship with God through Jesus. We can do so by reading the Bible, joining a Christian community, and submitting our lives to God through the Holy Spirit. Next week, the specific Call and mission. Surrendering, Fr. Bill+
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AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
February 2025
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