We who are Called are not free from work!

We who are Called are not free from work!

When Jesus returned from the wilderness he chose men to carry on with the mission which he was about to show them.  The first words he spoke to them were, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  (Mk 1: 17).  Have you ever thought about the mission Christ has set before us when he called our names from all eternity?

The progression of man’s ability to work is more than a paycheck at the end of a period of effort, it becomes a satisfactory attention to what is required for us to accomplish what we set about to do.  Take an example of what Jesus openly performed each time he showed his disciples who he was; not a miracle worker but the very essence of mercy that only God can give.  We sinned, he forgave us.  Our task already was within each of us to extend the mercy of God through our capacity to become just like Christ:  To suffer for righteousness, to assure those we tend with for faith, and to stand as a solid rampart to defend their journey towards eternal life with Christ.

There are questions at times from the weakness that we may show in spite of the grace we have received, but be assured the blessedness of Christ’s calling is for one reason only; to extend his mercy to anyone the Holy Spirit sends us to reach with Christ.

Our being called is not because of our holiness or some special grace that we have unlike others who do not have the same blessings.  It is what we can become that the Holy Spirit is already aware of (since he is God as well) that will bring an unknown person before God’s Countenance and then be sent like Christ to those who are called but do not respond to their invitation to become Christ-like.

God calls us but once and we must adhere to the words spoken silently within our souls that will hear and understand how precious his voice is even though the audible sense is just in our hearts.

There is no limit to the call that our Lord is speaking and asking from us; however once we refuse the future becomes a constant task like the "Hound of Heaven” where we cannot hide and like the lost sheep Christ will pick us up upon his shoulders and carry us back home to do his will.

God will never reject us!  His call is eternal and is full of his righteousness with unending grace.  We are his hands and voice to reach people to the ends of the earth to present God to those who are ready but need us to inform them of the Passion that Christ suffered for even those who do not believe.

Ralph B. Hathaway