As human beings, when we are called, we act. A friend or relative is ill? Off we run errands or we make a meal. A new baby arrives? We rejoice with others and dash to Target for diapers and ingredients for a meal for the new mother. A loved one dies? We mourn with others and arrange visits with the priest, funeral home, and, yes, make a meal for those whose last thought is to eat. How much richer and fulfilling these answered calls to action make our families and communities.
As we read in today’s Gospel, the first apostles received a call to action— “He said to them ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Mt. 4:19-21). They were called by Jesus and they acted at once, not hesitating to ponder on what they were being asked to do by Jesus. They were called, they acted.
Do we act without hesitation when Jesus calls? Do our actions imitate the actions of Peter, Andrew, James, and John? Will we respond as Samuel “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”? (1 SM 3:7-11). Can we so perfectly surrender as the Blessed Virgin, “Mary said ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’ “(Lk 1:38).
Christ is not asking us to be martyrs like Peter and Andrew, nor will we be asked to be as Mary to physically bear Our Lord. But maybe he is asking us to be like Samuel and be open to His calling. We read earlier in Samuel that, “…the word of the Lord was scarce and vision infrequent”. (1 SM 3:1) Doesn’t this describe our contemporary times! How can we share the word of the Lord and make Him visible to others through our actions?
In today’s first reading Paul notes that people need to hear the word of God and “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” If, like Samuel and the apostles, we listen to the voice of the Lord, we can bring Him to others by simple acts of random kindness such as the meals we prepare for others, the errands we run for others, and the prayers we offer for others.
How rich and fulfilling our lives would be when we partner with God in His call to action! For Jesus did not come to the world to establish His Kingdom by omnipotent decree. He became the word among us to participate in our lives and empower us to participate in his life by building this kingdom of God among us through Christ-like actions.
