WE HAVE ALL BEEN CALLED IN A UNIQUE WAY
( Is 49:3,5-6,Ps 40, 1Cor 1:1-3, John 1: 29-34)
Beloved in Christ, the readings of today indicate to us that each and everybody has been called by God uniquely. Everybody and the calling from God. Our vocations are different, but for a common goal. The kingdom business is so big, hence the roles are divided according to the wish of God. He has called all of us to share in the salvific mission of the Godhead (the Blessed Trinity). Some are called as priests, singers, ushers, readers, catechist, to mention a few. The purpose is to help humanity to be saved and gain eternal life. But in the first place this vocation is for our salvation before the salvation of the world. We cannot be working for the salvation of others whiles we abandon our very selves. You cannot give what you don’t have.
In the first reading, God promises hope to the people of Israel who were captives in Babylon. The purpose of the prophet Isaiah was to bring together the scattered sheep of Israel to the Lord. Through his message of hope to the people of Israel, they will persevere in the trying moments in the history of their salvation. And God was going to bring them back to their land. “ .. The Lord will give them as a light to the nations, that His salvation may reach to the end of the earth” Is 49:6b. The unique calling of the prophet was to help gather the people of Israel to the Lord through his preaching. For this he was called and named even when he was in his mother’s womb Is 49:1b. For the nation Israel, through His mighty hands of delivery, the world will come to know God. Humanity will see the saving power of God and come to accept Him as the source of our salvation. This was the basic calling of Israel as a nation. The prophet was called to gather them as a fallen nation, but they were to proclaim the Lord to the world as the only God who can save the world. Both callings are unique but with a common purpose as bringing salvation to humanity.
St. Paul in the second reading, as an apostle of Christ, indicates that he was called to bring the good news to the ends of the earth. As he is popularly called “the Apostle to the Gentiles”, he was chosen to preach the good news to the non- Jewish world. So in all his missionary journey, his focussed was on the gentiles for them to be saved. Even though there were Jews who were living in these communities, his target was the gentiles. This was his unique calling as an apostle. Paul never said that he was the leader of the apostles, because he accepted that, that was not his calling. He was called to preach to the gentiles, as simple as that.
The gospel reading points out the unique calling of John the Baptist. He was to be the for runner of the Messiah and to point Him out to the world. He came to prepare the hearts of his people Israel for the coming of the Messiah. And this was the purpose of his baptism of repentance. That was the reason why he said he baptises with water, but the one who is coming after him will baptise with water and fire ( Holy Spirit). He pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, who was to save the world. His unique call was to proclaim Jesus as the saviour of the world.
My dear friends, we are called differently by the Lord to perform different tasks. But the purposes are the same. We are unique at the sight of the Lord. You and the other person are not the same. We are gifted differently. Our vocations in this life cannot be the same. We need to first accept this fact before we can accept the calling of God. The comparisons are becoming too much. Some of us are always in the position to compare ourselves to others. Meanwhile you are not that person, God didn’t create you the same as that person. We are rather to focus on what we have been called to do and stop envying what others are able to do. This situation is killing a lot of talents which the Lord has endowed in us. We want to be like others. But the truth is that, you cannot be like others. You are who you are.
John the Baptist accepted the fact that he was the one called to prepare the way for the Messiah. In fact, he pointed out to the people that he was not the Christ. Because of the great things he was doing and his preaching, the people thought he was the one to come and save them from the oppression of the Romans. He told them that he was not the one, but that person is yet to come who is greater than he. He didn’t want to take glory for himself. He didn’t want any self-exaltation. What you are not, you are not. What about if he says he is the Messiah and later the Messiah comes himself? It would have been a big disgrace for him and his family and relations. The fact that he was even related to Jesus would have even worsen the case. Let us learn to accept our status in society. Accept and appreciate the level that the Lord has brought you in life.
Our refusal to accept this basic fact is creating a lot of disharmony and division among us. A lot of conflicts in our churches, work places, homes and the society at large is as a result of this situation. The fact that people are not ready to accept who they are and as such live according to their calling. The earlier we do, the better for all of us. If you are an assistant, accept that you are an assistant and work within your jurisdiction. For now you are not the boss, but a time will come when God will put you there. Until then, work as an assistant. Some people don’t want to work under people but they want others to work under them. You don’t want to submit to others but you want others to submit to you. This is not a Christian spirit.
You are not a priest or a pastor, you are not a catechist, you are not a singer, you are not an usher, you are not a reader, you are not a secretary, you are not a master of ceremony, to mention a few. Even priests or our pastors are gifted differently. But all these roles are for our salvation and that of others. Accept what God has made you to be. Don’t try to be what you are not. Many people have tried to be like others and they have failed. The lives of others can motivate and inspire you. That is why we have mentors in life. But you cannot be exactly like them. This is a basic truth which must be a guiding principle for us in life. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide us as we journey towards our heavenly home to always accept our unique calling as Christians and children of God. AMEN.
YOU ARE A UNIQUE PERSON. DON’T TRY TO BE SOME ONE ELSE.
Once again happy new year and may god continue to bless you at the beginning of the year.
REV. FR. Akakpo Matthew
