“Summon Out What I Shall Be” by Colleen O’Sullivan
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2)
Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in
me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent
me. I came into the world as light, so
that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. (John 12:44-46)
Piety
Take,
O Take Me As I Am – John L. Bell
Take, O take
me as I am.
Summon out
what I shall be.
Set your
seal upon my heart,
And live in
me.
Study
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| Mosaic of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, Agios Panteleimon Church, Nicosia, Cyprus, Creative Commons License, Wikimedia Commons |
Before we
are born, when we are still just a thought in the mind of our Creator, God has already
picked out a unique vocation for each of us, maybe more than one over the
course of a lifetime. Contrary to what
many of us might assume, vocations aren’t just for priests and religious. They’re for all of us.
In today’s
Gospel reading, John says that God sent his Son Jesus to be the Light that
illumines our human darkness. In other places in the Gospels, we are told that
Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the
Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is
the Messiah. Jesus becomes aware of his
multi-faceted vocation by staying close to his Father in prayer.
In today’s first
reading, the Holy Spirit says Barnabas and Saul are to be set apart for the proclamation
of the Word in Salamis, the principal city on Cyprus in those days. The leaders of the young Church must have spent
much time in discernment and prayer about who to send where and for what purpose.
Throughout
the Old and New Testaments, we read about individuals asked to do many
different things for the Lord and not always anything they had ever imagined
themselves doing. Moses is called upon
to lead God’s people on their escape from slavery under Pharaoh and to guide
them on their journey through the wilderness.
More than one person is called to
prophesy, some bearing words of comfort and others asked to warn God’s people that
the path they are on is the path to destruction. Mary is asked to be the mother of God’s Son. John the Baptist’s role is to prepare the way
of the Lord.
Action
What is it
that God has summoned forth from you in the way of vocation? Has this changed over the course of your
life? How did you become aware that this
was God’s desire for you? When you have
some quiet time today, share your thoughts and feelings with Jesus in prayer.
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