Epiphany 2 St Peter’s 19 January 2003
Revd
Mark Bonney
If you go into the
parish office you’ll see a large poster on the door opposite where Jean sits
– it’s a poster I gave to Jean two and half years ago now just before I went
off on sabbatical. It was produced by the diocese and has the words “God
called me – is God calling you?” – the reason I gave Jean the poster
wasn’t because I was encouraging her to contemplate the possibility of
ordination but because the beaming smile emanating from the poster happens to be
my visage – I thought that she needed to know that even in my absence I would
be looking at what she was doing.
“God called me – is
God calling you?” All our readings this morning link strongly with that. There
was the calling of Samuel in the first reading – the vision from Revelation
referring to the supreme calling of Jesus Christ to be the one who has opened
the way to God for all people; and then the gospel with Jesus simply saying to
Philip “follow me” – and he does just that.
“God called me- is God
calling you”. There’s often a perception around that to have a calling from
God – a vocation as the technical term is – we ought to have some kind of
ringing voice in our ears – but the reality is a little different. (Those who
have ringing voices in their ears and an absolute certainty that God is telling
them things are move often deluded or suffering from a mental illness). Since
we’re baptised Christian people we’re all called by God and we all
have a vocation. It may not be to be a priest – being a priest is just one
aspect of sharing in what our second reading described as “a kingdom and
priests serving our God.”
Because of our baptism
there are certain things that we’re called to do that don’t require a voice
ringing in our ears so that we know what God wants us to do – worshipping
together and receiving the sacraments – praying and reading the scriptures –
loving service to our neighbours – basic things that are just part of being a
follower of Christ. It means we’re called to exercise responsible stewardship
towards the Lord of our time, talents and money – simple basic things.
Everyone here who attends regularly and is on the Electoral Roll is called to be
in our stewardship scheme – if you’re not you’re not fulfilling your basic
Christian calling – as a slight aside on behalf of the stewardship committee
– it’s rather disappointing how few stewardship returns there have been from
last year’s letters.
Worship, loving service,
stewardship are all part of the general calling of all the baptised. There are
also those callings that come to do specific tasks – and sometimes such
callings come, not through the ringing voice in the ear, but because someone
taps us on the shoulder – or says “I think you’d be good at that.”
Humility may make us reluctant or reticent – but that doesn’t mean the task
asked of us isn’t the right one – the calling may be to serve at the altar,
administer a chalice, help with flowers, intercede, sing in the choir, help with
Sunday School, be a sidesman, on the Petertide Fair Committee etc, etc – all
these are part of Christian vocation. It’s part of a Christian vocation also
to be a teacher, a parent, an accountant, a solicitor, a doctor, a dentist.
Within our Christian
community there are also times when a special call is sent out “Could you help
please” – “is this you’re calling?”
Such calls go out quite
frequently – and often there’s a chronic deafness around. There’s a little
list in the pew leaflet of some calls going out – if things are anything like
last year then the list will get a little bit longer in the weeks to come. Is
anyone out there hearing the call about some paid work in the parish office, or
assisting with the administration of the Court House? Tenors and basses in the
choir, boys and girls to join? Some very long-standing Sunday School teachers
have indicated they will be standing down soon – is God calling you? Our Youth
Worker is settling in well – but unless there are two or three more adults who
could help he’s faced with an impossible task really.
The striking thing about
Samuel and Philip from today’s readings is their response to the call: Samuel
at first doesn’t understand what’s niggling him – Eli’s something of a
sad character because if you read the chapter or two before the one we had
you’ll read about how his sons are a dreadful pair and bringing the priesthood
into disrepute – the word of the Lord was rare because no one was listening.
Eli’s just about together enough to discern what’s happening for Samuel –
and Samuel is able to utter the words “Speak
Lord, your servant is listening.” And having listened he does what he is asked
to do. Likewise Philip hears two words – “Follow me” – and leaps up and
does just that.
When I was a curate I
remember the vicar sending me off to address an ecumenical gathering which
he’d been invited to – I began by saying to them “You’ve got me –
it’s a case of the vicar saying, Lord here I am, send the curate.” Sometimes
when there are calls for help like I’ve just made the response is “Lord here
I am – send the chap over there!”
As God called Samuel, as
the Lord called Philip so each one of us here has a calling from the Lord.. let
us pray that our eyes and hearts and ears may be open to listen, to sense, to
hear and above to respond. God can be pretty persistent at times – but one
thing he never does is compel us to do anything unwillingly … the choice is
always ours because what he wants above all else is a free response in love to
his love call. That call of love comes to us in this and every Eucharist where
the death and resurrection of Christ becomes a present reality for us beneath
the forms of bread and wine. The call of God is a call of love – may we
respond in love too, graciously, joyfully and to the glory of the one and only
living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.