CALLED BY GOD

How are you called to follow God?   All three readings from today's liturgy are about call stories.  In the first reading we hear about Isaiah's call.  He is shaken by the presence of God and feels unworthy to be in God's presence.  A seraphim touches Isaiah's lips with an ember as a gesture of God's mercy and forgiveness.  Then he hears the call from God, "Whom shall I send?"  Isaiah's responds, "Here I am, send me."

St. Paul tells us in the second reading that he was not fit to be called an apostle because he persecuted those who followed Christ.  However, by the grace of God, he was called to spread the Good News.

In Luke's Gospel we listen to the call of the disciples.  Although they caught nothing after fishing all night, Simon Peter and the other fishermen go back out on their boats to lower their nets at Jesus' command.  They caught much more fish than they ever expected so that their nets were almost tearing.  Simon Peter fell to his knees and told Jesus to depart from him because he was sinful man.  James and John were also astonished by the event.  Jesus told them not to be afraid, from now on they will be catching men and women.

Everyone is called to follow Jesus.  It does not matter whether you are a sinner, poor, broken, man, or woman.  Jesus invites everyone to follow him.  He never coerces anyone and many times the call is gentle.  Christ calls men and women to follow in different ways.  We call these ways "vocations." Some are called to the married life to vow love to another person and raise a family.  Some people are called to the single life and serve God in different capacities.  Others are called to serve God as a priest or deacon in order to serve God's people in the church.  Still others are called to religious life as a consecrated sister or brother. 
Married couples may share with others how they met and fell in love.  They can be involved in their parish or to other works of service.  Women and men religious each have their own call story of how Christ invited them to the Consecrated Life.  For me the call was gentle, luring, and happened over several years until I recognized that I was being called not only to religious life, but also as a Sister of St. Joseph.  I enjoy sharing my call story with others and gladly do so whenever I am asked.  It always energizes me and renews my enthusiasm for this life to which Christ invited me.
No matter which vocation you are currently living or will be called to in the future, it is always for the service of God and others.  If you have ever felt a nudge or and inner voice inviting you to a religious vocation, contact me at s.lfusco@ssjerie.org.  How are you called to follow God?

TIME TO REST

Last week we heard from Mark's Gospel that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs and gave them directions about what to take, what to preach, and to heal.  This Sunday's gospel continues with the disciples returning to Jesus.  They were excited and reported to Jesus on all they had done and taught.  It also states that they were so busy that they did not have enough time to eat.

Our culture has us running from one thing to another.  I have heard parents and students talk about all the activities they have after school and weekends.  You may have heard or know people who constantly work long hours, get very little rest, and eat unhealthily by grabbing food on the go.  I watch people around me who live by their calendar with every hour filled with meetings, appointments, and other commitments.

In the gospel Jesus invites the disciples with him to go to a place where they can rest. No one can be on the go twenty-four hours a day.  Of course, it is important to be responsible, and if we want to keep our jobs, we have to get our work done. In order to do this, however, we need to recognize our need for Jesus.  

Jesus, himself,  often went off alone to pray.  I believe that is where he gathered his strength.  How do you gather your strength to be renewed?  Do you take a day off to rest, play, or pray?  And what about relationship with others and with God?  We cannot live in isolation.  We need family and friends. More importantly, we need Jesus.  For peace and rest we need to take time to sit and talk to him and to be still and listen.

I make time to pray and reflect on Sunday mornings.  I am fortunate that I go once a year for quiet and rest with God on my annual retreat. These times deepen my relationship with Christ.  How do you deepen your relationship with God?

GOD DOES LOVE YOU

This week's Gospel was about Jesus proclaiming to those in the synagogue that the passage he had just read from Isaiah was fulfilled in him.  He was the Messiah.  The people gathered there would not believe, so they drove him out of town.

The pastor at the parish, where I attend mass, talked about the "Nazarene Syndrome."  I won't remember word for word of what was said in his homily, so I hope I can capture the gist of it.  He said that the people in Nazareth could not accept that God could be present through Jesus because they knew him as an ordinary person of their town.  Many people today cannot accept that God is present in their ordinary lives.  The reason is that these people do not believe that God can love them  or that they are lovable. 

The pastor offered four ways to inoculate against the "Nazarene Syndrome."  Unfortunately, I only remember two.  One way is to tell yourself each day that you are loved by God and that you are a lovable person.  The second way is that each night give thanks to God for all the blessings of the day.  It will help you recognize how much God loves you.

In a book that I am reading, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything, the author says that we do not have to wait until things are settled in our lives, or until we thing we become better people for God to love us.  God loves us right now, just as we are, and in whatever circumstances we are in. 

Recognizing God's love will help you to be a person of love.  His love with strengthen you through any situation and will draw you closer in relationship to God.  

Take time to recognize God's love for you. 

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

In John's Gospel yesterday we heard about Jesus' first miracle at a wedding in Cana.  Jesus' mother said, "They have no wine."  He replied that this was no concern of theirs, nor that his hour had not yet come.  But Mary said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."  Jesus then gives the servers directions to fill the jars with water, draw some out, and take it to the headwaiter.  The headwaiter tasted the water that had now become wine and found it to be better wine than what was served earlier.
In other passages of Jesus' miracles there are usually words spoken by Jesus, or an action, or a recognition of faith.  However, in this miracle Jesus says no words over the water, nor does he do anything to the water to cause it to change into wine.  All Jesus does is give directions and the actions of the obedient servers is the means of the water transforming into wine.
Webster's Dictionary defines transformation as, "a change in form or appearance" or "change in condition, character, or function of.  Like the servers in the gospel who listened and were obedient to the directions Jesus gave them, so also we must listen and follow what he tells us to do.  How do we do that?  We can spend time in prayer and reflection.  By praying with scripture, and listening to what Christ is telling us we will be transformed into all that he knows we can be and all that he desires for us.  Sitting still in quiet in the presence of Christ we are transformed as we grow in relationship with him.  As we grow in relationship with Christ we will be attuned to what he wants us to do.  Also, by working and serving those in need, we can help transform lives and we can transform systems that oppress others.
Perhaps there are situations in your life or something in yourself that needs to be transformed.  It could be your lifestyle, your workplace, or your relationship with family or friends.  Whatever way you may be called to transformation, be still, listen, and do whatever he tells you.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.  The account of Jesus' baptism appears in all four gospels.  Baptizing with water was a common practice at that time.  However, the difference is that while John baptizes with water, Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Jesus' baptism was like everyone else's until the Holy Spirit came upon him.  His baptism would mark the beginning of a new period in his life.  No longer would he work in the carpenter shop.  Declared by the Holy Spirit as God's beloved Son, Jesus sets out on a new mission. 
I like the fact that this gospel comes near the beginning of a new year.  It helps us to reflect, not only on the past year, but to look forward to new beginnings.  We have all had new beginnings in our lives.  For some it may just be resolutions to begin breaking a bad habit, eating healthier, exercising more, or getting more sleep.  We may have experienced beginnings of being a high school or college student; the beginning of a new career; the beginning of a marriage or religious life.  Perhaps a new beginning has occurred on a retreat, or from a time of true discernment and you were set on fire with a new insight or inspiration.

New beginnings can also happen in times of pain; a person who becomes paralyzed begins to learn how he/she can still live a full life; a widow who now begins to live life without a partner; a child who begins to find how to live after losing a parent; and for those in Newtown, Connecticut, how to begin life without their children.

At our baptism we too were declared sons and daughters of God.  Our new life in Christ began.  As we matured we may have had many ways to begin again at various times in our lives.  Whatever our new beginnings will be in the future as beloved sons and daughters of God, we will always have the grace we need to more forward.

PRAYER FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

January 11, 2013 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Please pray the following prayer.

Liberator God,
You came to set us free from all forms of slavery

And to heal us into freedom.

Let us remember those who have suffered from slavery

And the millions who still suffer as slaves.

We pray especially for all your children who have

Suffered the injustice of slavery.

God, you have created human beings with dignity and

We know that slavery is a horrible injustice.

Empower us, who are not enslaved,

To fight for the rights of those who are.

Help us to pray and empower us in action

To free your enslaved children.

Liberator God, hear us, help us,

And set your children free through us.

Amen

                                                                                              (Adapted from Education for Justice)

FOLLOWING THE STAR

Have you followed any stars lately?  One of the delightful parts of the Nativity narratives is the visit of the Magis or Kings.  As the gospel tells us, these three men followed a star to the find the place where the newborn babe was lying in a manger.

As I listened and reflected on following stars it became clear to me that the star we are to follow is in our hearts.  The star is our deepest desires.  For some the deepest desire is fame and fortune.  For others it may be to sing or act on stage.  For others there is a desire to serve and to love God and know God more fully.  

Stars light up the sky so beautifully.  How appropriate it is that the Magi followed the light of a star to find the Light of the World.  The star in our heart is Christ who lights our way.  When we are in tune with the star in our heart, we can then bring the light of Christ to others.  Isn't that what we are called to do anyway?  

May we who bear the star in our hearts continue to light the way and bring others into the light of Christ.