Answer the Call

Earlier today, I started writing a post, but I could not get past the title. I said a quick prayer that God would give me something good to write about. And then I looked at today's Mass readings for inspiration.

Seconds before I typed these words, I was in the middle of the Gospel passage. Then my phone rang. An unknown number from another state has been calling me repeatedly throughout the week since this summer. As usual, I ignored their call. They don't leave a message and I know no one from that state. I googled their number once before and saw that others had reported that it was a scammer. I never imagined the insight these constant calls would bring me.

Just now, as I denied their call, I questioned why I had never answered. Yes, for some reason I began analyzing this simple act. Don't ask me why. Perhaps I have spent too much time contemplating an English essay today. Nonetheless, I was amazed at what I found.

I think I never answer because I don't want to confront this caller about whatever "scam" he or she is trying to sell to me. If I answer, they're going to tell me about the taxes I owe or the error I've made. And I don't want to go to all the trouble that answering would cause. To get them to stop calling, I thought, maybe I can have my dad answer next time and work it out for me. 

I spent only about a minute wondering why I never answer, and then I finished reading the Gospel. I read these words when I flipped back over to it:

People will die of fright

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these signs begin to happen,

stand erect and raise your heads

because your redemption is at hand.

(Luke 21: 26-28)

And then it hit me. I knew what to write about. 

Though a phone call from a scammer is not shaking of the heavens, my contemplation of those calls opened my eyes to the significance of this passage. This passage refers to the final coming of Christ, but its message is applicable to our daily lives, as well. We become afraid when we see God coming down to us. We hide sometimes. We don't want to confront Him about whatever he is trying to sell us, and some of us go so far as to claim that He's selling a lie (but rest assured, God's call is not a scam like in my example). We would rather avoid the trouble that answering would cause. Besides, He is calling to remind us what we did wrong, right? To try to get Him to stop calling, we stand aside and let others answer His call. 

But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

Every day is an opportunity to grow closer to redemption. God calls down to us because He wants us. He is jealous for us. And we should want Him, too. We know in our hearts that by answering Him, we invite the opportunity for a wonderful life. But we also know that we invite a whole lot of trouble. So we make excuses. 

If we answer God's call to do His will, we will feel guilt when we mess up. We will be mocked. We will miss out on living life in the now. It's not for us...someone else should answer the call. 

Well, God has heard these and countless other excuses before. And he has a response to each one. Are you afraid  of feeling guilt? God forgives us.  Are you afraid of being mocked. Christ said it Himself in Matthew 5:10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Are you afraid of missing out on life because you have answered His call? If anything, your life will be more meaningful and more fulfilling if you accept Him. Do you ignore Him because the call is "not meant for you," because you think someone else would be better fit to serve Him? God calls everyone. Ready or not, He's calling YOU at this very moment.

We have no excuse. There is no good reason for us to ignore the call to be faithful followers of Christ. When we see signs of God's love and glory, when God calls us out by name to follow Him, we must not hide and ignore Him. Instead we must stand up and raise our heads. Our future, our happiness, our chance at life after death is at hand. He won't stop calling, so you might as well answer Him now. That one act of acceptance will change your life.

Note: Do not answer the scammers, only God.

Me in Midloathian, Texas.
 Moment captured by Caroline.

Now if only I could somehow stumble upon inspiration for that English paper.