Answering The Call Of The Lord
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle C
He was born to a pious German woman and her Lutheran pastor husband in 1875. With parents of erudition and raised in a Christian environment, it was not unexpected that he studied at the university. He was a brilliant student and achieved doctorates in both philosophy and theology by the time he had reached his early twenties. As an academic he was well-known, especially in his immediate purview of colleagues. In 1910, however, he wrote a book, The Quest for the Historical Jesus, a monograph that used historical criticism to analyze the Gospel narratives and made him an international celebrity in theology almost overnight.
At the top of his field, one might think it odd to change direction in life, but God was calling him to do something different, to dedicate himself to music. As a young man he had toyed with the idea of being a professional musician. Now, as he approached the age of forty, he began to tour the major European cities as a concert organist. His interpretation of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, both on the concert stage and on some of the first phonographic recordings, was praised by critics.
After conquering two different disciplines, theology and musical performance, God called him to change directions in his life again. This time the shift was a radical step -- he was invited to become a medical missionary in Africa. The challenge would be great, but he went with confidence that all would be provided. French Equatorial Africa had only been "opened" by Christian missionaries a few decades previously. In the 1920s he established a hospital on the Gonge River in the nation of Gabon. The facility served two functions: as a hospital, meeting the immediate needs of the local area, and as a leper sanitarium for the greater geographic region.
After laboring for more than thirty years in Africa as a doctor, the world officially recognized the contribution of Albert Schweitzer. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The inscription read, "Granted on behalf of the brotherhood of nations."
Albert Schweitzer accepted several different calls from God and he did so without hesitation and with complete commitment to the task. He did not question the nature of the call, its perceived difficulty, nor his suitability for the task. He placed trust in God that what he needed would be provided. His confidence was not misguided, for the world has been made a better place because one man took the call from God seriously and answered using the gifts and talents he possessed.
Albert Schweitzer is an excellent example of how one man answered the call of the Lord. In a similar way we are encouraged by today's reading to contemplate our call from God. God will call, but the manner and the timing may not be as we expect. Therefore, it is necessary to have sufficient faith to follow, as did Dr. Schweitzer, the call of the Lord.
Like all the prophets we read in the Hebrew Scriptures, Jeremiah was called to answer God's call in his life by proclaiming God's message. However, as we hear in today's reading, Jeremiah, one of the so-called three "major" prophets, was called from the moment of his conception. As the prophet writes (1:5) God's words to him, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah did not think himself qualified for this great task. Possibly he declined the invitation because he felt he did not possess sufficient talent. He probably knew the task would be great and did not feel up to such an arduous and possibly dangerous role in God's plan. It could also be the case that Jeremiah realized that his role might make him very unpopular with certain segments of Hebrew society. He may have come to the conclusion that the role of prophet would cost him greatly and that he did not have sufficient strength to answer God's call in this way. Jeremiah complained to God that he was a mere youth, but Yahweh answered that he was to go where God sent him and he was to speak God's word to the people. God touched the prophet and placed on his lips the words he needed to complete his task. The Lord gave Jeremiah the ability and the authority to destroy the enemies of God and overthrow the forces that were allied against God's plans. He was to plant new beginnings for Judah, a new crop that would bear good fruit.
God calls us at numerous times in our life and in a multitude of ways. We always have the chance to respond. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet while still in the womb, but most of us will grow into an understanding and knowledge of God's call in our lives more gradually. The important thing is to be open to the call and the many possibilities and opportunities it brings. This need for openness is well-illustrated by the famous parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). We remember that the owner of the vineyard, who represents God, invites those who seek work to come to the vineyard at different times. As God called the workers, so the Lord may call us in the morning, mid-day, afternoon, or twilight of our life. We, therefore, must be ready to hear God's call and respond. We should be content when and how God calls and not be envious of others, who may respond late in life or in a manner that we would have liked but never followed, yet receive the same attention and compensation as ourselves. The point of the parable is, of course, that God's mercy is abundant. We seem to think if we respond early to God's call we may miss out on something, but the reality is that an early response translates into the opportunity to enjoy all that God provides for a longer period of time. The ability and courage to answer God's call should always be paramount in our lives.
God calls, but as with Albert Schweitzer, neither the timing of the call nor its nature can be known in advance. We do know, however, that all people are called to the common vocation of holiness and, therefore, the common response of discipleship must be ours. How we live our lives of holiness and the method of discipleship that we choose will vary with individuals. Many people are called to marriage and family. This specialized vocation of sharing completely two lives and making them one in heart and mind, together with the all-important responsibility of assisting children to discover the call of the Lord in their lives, is certainly highly valued by God and our society. Jesus obviously respected the institution of marriage from his presence at Cana at the outset of his public ministry (John 2:1-12), and God from the very outset commanded men and women, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). Some people are called to the special witness value associated with the single life, a sign that is especially important in a society which often labels the solitary life as odd or even abnormal. Many people who are never called nor possess the gifts that the commitment of marriage requires nevertheless seek to "be normal" and in the process create great consternation for themselves and much pain for many. The vocation of the single life should be highly valued. All of us are called to varied professional vocations as teachers, physicians, engineers, clerical workers, civil servants, and a host of other day-to-day occupations. We, like Albert Schweitzer, may change our work vocations, with the belief that the Lord and/or opportunity calls us to do something new and different.
There are times as well when many people are called to do something that they did not choose nor desire. Like Jeremiah and many other leading figures in the scriptures, life may necessitate a change in plans. From all we can tell from his writing, Jeremiah did not care to be a prophet, nor for that matter did Jonah, who ran away, and Amos, who did not feel qualified for the job. Nevertheless, all of these prophets in the end answered God's call as it was spoken to them. In the opinion of many, the premier example of one who answered the Lord's call is Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of God. Engaged to Joseph at a young age, she probably expected to live a rather ordinary life as a Jewish wife and possibly mother. Then, without warning and with almost no time even to think about the opportunity, Mary's whole future was transformed by the visit of the Angel Gabriel and the invitation extended for her to become the Mother of God. Unhesitatingly, she responded with her famous fiat, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Like the great figures of scripture, we may be asked to walk a road less traveled, more treacherous, and not one we choose. We may have the difficult task of walking the road of ill-health with a loved one. It is not what we expect nor choose, but this may for a time, long or short, be the vocation that God asks of us. Are we ready to answer the call? We may be asked to follow a route we did not plan for the betterment of others -- the needs of children, people in the community who ask our service, fellow workers who require our assistance. It may not be what we expected, but it is the call of the Lord and we need to respond. Too often we take shortcuts and do not allow the opportunities of God's call to grab us; we allow them to pass by and they are lost, possibly forever. Abraham Maslow, the famous psychologist, often challenged his students by asking, "Who among you will be the next Einstein, the next Roosevelt, or the next Schweitzer?" When the students squirmed uneasily in hearing the challenge, he would respond, "If not you, then who?"
Yes, God will call in many ways and at different times. The call may not be what we expected or want, but the task is to have sufficient faith to know that the vocation to which we are drawn is God's call and, therefore, pregnant with possibilities. A well-known story helps us to understand the need for faith in following the call of the Lord.
Long ago on a high mountaintop three trees were speaking about their future dreams. The first tree said, "I would really like to made into a cradle, so that a newborn baby might rest comfortably and I could support that new life." The second tree looked down at a small stream that was flowing into a big river and said, "I want to be made into a great ship, so I can carry useful cargo to all corners of the world." The third tree viewed the valley from its mountaintop and said, "I don't want to be made into anything. I just want to remain here and grow tall, so I can remind people to raise their eyes and think of God in heaven who loves them so much."
Years passed and the trees grew tall and mighty. Then one day three woodcutters climbed the mountain in order to harvest some trees. As they cut down the first tree, one of the men said, "We will make this one into a manger." The tree shook its branches in protest; it did not want to become a feed box for animals. It had grander ideas for its beauty. But the woodcutters made it into a manger and sold it to an innkeeper in a small town called Bethlehem. And when the Lord Jesus was born, he was placed in that manger. Suddenly the first tree realized it was cradling the greatest treasure the world had ever seen. As the woodcutters cut down the second tree, they said, "We will make this into a fishing boat." The tree protested, but the woodcutters did as they planned and a man named Simon Peter bought it. And when the Lord Jesus needed a place from which to address the crowds that were pressing upon him, he got into that little fishing boat and proclaimed the Good News. And the second tree suddenly realized it was carrying a most precious cargo, the King of heaven and earth. The woodcutters then came to the third tree and said, "The Romans are paying good money these days for wooden beams for their crosses. We will cut this tree into beams for a cross." The tree protested so hard that its leaves began to shake and then fall onto the ground, but it was cut down, nonetheless, and made into beams.
One Friday morning the third tree was startled when its beams were taken from a woodpile and shoved onto the shoulders of a man. The tree flinched when soldiers nailed the man's hands to the wood; the tree felt shamed and humiliated. But early on Sunday morning, as the dawn appeared, the earth trembled with joy beneath the tree. The tree knew that the Lord of all the earth had been crucified on the cross it made, but now God's love had changed everything. And the cross from that third tree stands tall to remind people to raise their eyes and think of the God in heaven who loves them. And did you notice, how in each case, being cut down was the price that was paid for entering into God's glory?
Let us be more like Albert Schweitzer and Jeremiah and answer God's call. The journey we will take may be long and possibly circuitous, but in the end the goal we seek, salvation with God, the source of all good things, is worth our best effort. Let us answer God's call; our reward in heaven will be great!
At the top of his field, one might think it odd to change direction in life, but God was calling him to do something different, to dedicate himself to music. As a young man he had toyed with the idea of being a professional musician. Now, as he approached the age of forty, he began to tour the major European cities as a concert organist. His interpretation of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, both on the concert stage and on some of the first phonographic recordings, was praised by critics.
After conquering two different disciplines, theology and musical performance, God called him to change directions in his life again. This time the shift was a radical step -- he was invited to become a medical missionary in Africa. The challenge would be great, but he went with confidence that all would be provided. French Equatorial Africa had only been "opened" by Christian missionaries a few decades previously. In the 1920s he established a hospital on the Gonge River in the nation of Gabon. The facility served two functions: as a hospital, meeting the immediate needs of the local area, and as a leper sanitarium for the greater geographic region.
After laboring for more than thirty years in Africa as a doctor, the world officially recognized the contribution of Albert Schweitzer. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The inscription read, "Granted on behalf of the brotherhood of nations."
Albert Schweitzer accepted several different calls from God and he did so without hesitation and with complete commitment to the task. He did not question the nature of the call, its perceived difficulty, nor his suitability for the task. He placed trust in God that what he needed would be provided. His confidence was not misguided, for the world has been made a better place because one man took the call from God seriously and answered using the gifts and talents he possessed.
Albert Schweitzer is an excellent example of how one man answered the call of the Lord. In a similar way we are encouraged by today's reading to contemplate our call from God. God will call, but the manner and the timing may not be as we expect. Therefore, it is necessary to have sufficient faith to follow, as did Dr. Schweitzer, the call of the Lord.
Like all the prophets we read in the Hebrew Scriptures, Jeremiah was called to answer God's call in his life by proclaiming God's message. However, as we hear in today's reading, Jeremiah, one of the so-called three "major" prophets, was called from the moment of his conception. As the prophet writes (1:5) God's words to him, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah did not think himself qualified for this great task. Possibly he declined the invitation because he felt he did not possess sufficient talent. He probably knew the task would be great and did not feel up to such an arduous and possibly dangerous role in God's plan. It could also be the case that Jeremiah realized that his role might make him very unpopular with certain segments of Hebrew society. He may have come to the conclusion that the role of prophet would cost him greatly and that he did not have sufficient strength to answer God's call in this way. Jeremiah complained to God that he was a mere youth, but Yahweh answered that he was to go where God sent him and he was to speak God's word to the people. God touched the prophet and placed on his lips the words he needed to complete his task. The Lord gave Jeremiah the ability and the authority to destroy the enemies of God and overthrow the forces that were allied against God's plans. He was to plant new beginnings for Judah, a new crop that would bear good fruit.
God calls us at numerous times in our life and in a multitude of ways. We always have the chance to respond. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet while still in the womb, but most of us will grow into an understanding and knowledge of God's call in our lives more gradually. The important thing is to be open to the call and the many possibilities and opportunities it brings. This need for openness is well-illustrated by the famous parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). We remember that the owner of the vineyard, who represents God, invites those who seek work to come to the vineyard at different times. As God called the workers, so the Lord may call us in the morning, mid-day, afternoon, or twilight of our life. We, therefore, must be ready to hear God's call and respond. We should be content when and how God calls and not be envious of others, who may respond late in life or in a manner that we would have liked but never followed, yet receive the same attention and compensation as ourselves. The point of the parable is, of course, that God's mercy is abundant. We seem to think if we respond early to God's call we may miss out on something, but the reality is that an early response translates into the opportunity to enjoy all that God provides for a longer period of time. The ability and courage to answer God's call should always be paramount in our lives.
God calls, but as with Albert Schweitzer, neither the timing of the call nor its nature can be known in advance. We do know, however, that all people are called to the common vocation of holiness and, therefore, the common response of discipleship must be ours. How we live our lives of holiness and the method of discipleship that we choose will vary with individuals. Many people are called to marriage and family. This specialized vocation of sharing completely two lives and making them one in heart and mind, together with the all-important responsibility of assisting children to discover the call of the Lord in their lives, is certainly highly valued by God and our society. Jesus obviously respected the institution of marriage from his presence at Cana at the outset of his public ministry (John 2:1-12), and God from the very outset commanded men and women, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). Some people are called to the special witness value associated with the single life, a sign that is especially important in a society which often labels the solitary life as odd or even abnormal. Many people who are never called nor possess the gifts that the commitment of marriage requires nevertheless seek to "be normal" and in the process create great consternation for themselves and much pain for many. The vocation of the single life should be highly valued. All of us are called to varied professional vocations as teachers, physicians, engineers, clerical workers, civil servants, and a host of other day-to-day occupations. We, like Albert Schweitzer, may change our work vocations, with the belief that the Lord and/or opportunity calls us to do something new and different.
There are times as well when many people are called to do something that they did not choose nor desire. Like Jeremiah and many other leading figures in the scriptures, life may necessitate a change in plans. From all we can tell from his writing, Jeremiah did not care to be a prophet, nor for that matter did Jonah, who ran away, and Amos, who did not feel qualified for the job. Nevertheless, all of these prophets in the end answered God's call as it was spoken to them. In the opinion of many, the premier example of one who answered the Lord's call is Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of God. Engaged to Joseph at a young age, she probably expected to live a rather ordinary life as a Jewish wife and possibly mother. Then, without warning and with almost no time even to think about the opportunity, Mary's whole future was transformed by the visit of the Angel Gabriel and the invitation extended for her to become the Mother of God. Unhesitatingly, she responded with her famous fiat, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Like the great figures of scripture, we may be asked to walk a road less traveled, more treacherous, and not one we choose. We may have the difficult task of walking the road of ill-health with a loved one. It is not what we expect nor choose, but this may for a time, long or short, be the vocation that God asks of us. Are we ready to answer the call? We may be asked to follow a route we did not plan for the betterment of others -- the needs of children, people in the community who ask our service, fellow workers who require our assistance. It may not be what we expected, but it is the call of the Lord and we need to respond. Too often we take shortcuts and do not allow the opportunities of God's call to grab us; we allow them to pass by and they are lost, possibly forever. Abraham Maslow, the famous psychologist, often challenged his students by asking, "Who among you will be the next Einstein, the next Roosevelt, or the next Schweitzer?" When the students squirmed uneasily in hearing the challenge, he would respond, "If not you, then who?"
Yes, God will call in many ways and at different times. The call may not be what we expected or want, but the task is to have sufficient faith to know that the vocation to which we are drawn is God's call and, therefore, pregnant with possibilities. A well-known story helps us to understand the need for faith in following the call of the Lord.
Long ago on a high mountaintop three trees were speaking about their future dreams. The first tree said, "I would really like to made into a cradle, so that a newborn baby might rest comfortably and I could support that new life." The second tree looked down at a small stream that was flowing into a big river and said, "I want to be made into a great ship, so I can carry useful cargo to all corners of the world." The third tree viewed the valley from its mountaintop and said, "I don't want to be made into anything. I just want to remain here and grow tall, so I can remind people to raise their eyes and think of God in heaven who loves them so much."
Years passed and the trees grew tall and mighty. Then one day three woodcutters climbed the mountain in order to harvest some trees. As they cut down the first tree, one of the men said, "We will make this one into a manger." The tree shook its branches in protest; it did not want to become a feed box for animals. It had grander ideas for its beauty. But the woodcutters made it into a manger and sold it to an innkeeper in a small town called Bethlehem. And when the Lord Jesus was born, he was placed in that manger. Suddenly the first tree realized it was cradling the greatest treasure the world had ever seen. As the woodcutters cut down the second tree, they said, "We will make this into a fishing boat." The tree protested, but the woodcutters did as they planned and a man named Simon Peter bought it. And when the Lord Jesus needed a place from which to address the crowds that were pressing upon him, he got into that little fishing boat and proclaimed the Good News. And the second tree suddenly realized it was carrying a most precious cargo, the King of heaven and earth. The woodcutters then came to the third tree and said, "The Romans are paying good money these days for wooden beams for their crosses. We will cut this tree into beams for a cross." The tree protested so hard that its leaves began to shake and then fall onto the ground, but it was cut down, nonetheless, and made into beams.
One Friday morning the third tree was startled when its beams were taken from a woodpile and shoved onto the shoulders of a man. The tree flinched when soldiers nailed the man's hands to the wood; the tree felt shamed and humiliated. But early on Sunday morning, as the dawn appeared, the earth trembled with joy beneath the tree. The tree knew that the Lord of all the earth had been crucified on the cross it made, but now God's love had changed everything. And the cross from that third tree stands tall to remind people to raise their eyes and think of the God in heaven who loves them. And did you notice, how in each case, being cut down was the price that was paid for entering into God's glory?
Let us be more like Albert Schweitzer and Jeremiah and answer God's call. The journey we will take may be long and possibly circuitous, but in the end the goal we seek, salvation with God, the source of all good things, is worth our best effort. Let us answer God's call; our reward in heaven will be great!
