On Knowing, Discernment and Call
by Robin Woods Summers
The three lessons above, scattered through the Bible as they are, each seem to speak to the same message. Take Joseph---by the end of this story, a story we know, we know Joseph was being called by God---that his dreams were messages. His father seemed puzzled by the dreams---perhaps he knew that Joseph was not prideful, or lording himself over others as his brothers thought---that maybe Joseph was confused by dreams where he seemed to be the one in power---he who was so young, and so disrespected. Maybe they meant something.
Then we come to Mark, and the introduction of John the Baptist---no one could quite discern what John was about; John knew what he was doing, but few others seemed to. He was baptizing with water, One would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John discerned when the One filled with the Holy Spirit came to him. We know that story.
Next comes Paul. Paul is upset with the people of Corinth. Paul says, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic of our own?" He tells the people each of them is important; that God will never give up on any one of them. We know that God called Paul to follow Him. We know that story.
What is hard for us is to know that God calls each of us. That is rather hard to really believe. It is difficult for each of us to think about being Called to serve, yet each of us is called. It is difficult to Discern what this means in our lives, yet we are called to discern. Lent is a time to reflect on these big words, Discernment and Calling---perhaps it is a time to listen to dreams as we wander in the wilderness these forty days. I think we are called to wander while we try to get to know (hear our call, discern our task) our own stories as servants of the Living God. Perhaps we will be called to do good works and perhaps in that call we will be crucified. We know that the heart of the story is that we are loved. As Presiding Bishop John Hines said once, "Why would we think that what happened to the Man we choose to follow would not also happen to us?"
For Your Prayer:
Be quiet, and ask for guidance about what you are being called to do, as you the pray following prayer for all Christians in their vocation (From the Book of Common Prayer):
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen.
For Your Reflection: During this Lenten season, are there ways you are working to discern what you are called to do? What other ways might you listen to what God is calling you to do or to be? Robin Woods Summers serves as President of the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Colorado |
Lent call us to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.
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