Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:16

If you’ve ever been called to do something – lead a group, play on a team, answer a question – you know that there is always more to the call than what first meets the eye. Accepting a call means also accepting its consequences. The leader is expected to lead, the player is expected to play well, and the student is expected to study. No wonder we shy away from being called, or at least, from responding to our calling. Today’s scripture celebrates the call each of us has received from God through Christ. It is made clear that each of us has a calling to let the light of Christ shine in our lives so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our heavenly father.

Christ’s call is twofold. It is, first of all, a call to change our lives. Secondly, it is a call to share with others what we have experienced because of Christ – forgiveness, welcome, reconciliation and unconditional love. Being called by Christ, then, means personally dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ; and it means doing it every day. Each day we must turn away from selfishness to self-giving; from fear to trust; and from self-doubt to faith.

Being called by Christ also means sharing with others the good news of God’s presence in the world. Through Christ, God has entered into our personal lives. Answering the call of Christ means walking in his footsteps.

If you think that responding to Christ’s call is difficult, know that it is. But, don’t let that put you off. Know that throughout the centuries, people like you responded to Christ’s call. This response has created a grouping of people which we call the church. We know that the church is human because it is made up of people who are imperfect and vulnerable. We also know that the church is Divine because it possess the power and the grace that come only from Christ – through the gift of faith, the sacraments, and the example of people who respond to the good news of the gospel.

Let each of us strive to live lives worthy of our Christian calling.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

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