2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Having a variety of excuses tucked away in our consciences seems to be a part of our lives. Parents have them; children have them; employees have them; bosses have them; the government has them – and yes, even priests have them! When we do not live up to someone’s expectations, we do not want to be caught unprepared, so we often rehearse what our excuse will be, how we will say it, and what reaction we are likely to get in response. Excuses may have a place within our human relationships, but they have no place in our relationship with God. Indeed, excuses are usually our justification for thoughts or behavior that is contrary to God’s will. We have to face that fact that, sooner or later, there is not one single excuse that will work when we stand before God and give an account of our lives. What excuse would be good enough to explain why we did not heed God’s voice stirring in our hearts, but chose, instead, to follow some other path?

We have all received a vocation – a call from God. At its most basic level, we have all received a call to salvation. Several times in the New Testament we hear that our names have been written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world. We have also received a more specific call on how we are to live out this more general call. Some of us are called to be married, others single, still others to religious life. This is not a matter of personal preference – it is a response to God’s call. Finally, our work is also part of our response to our vocation. We are not simply earning a living; we are also responding to God’s call in whatever work we do. If we keep this fact in mind, then we can see how whatever work we might do, even forms of work that might seem quite humble, can be for us an expression of our dedication to spreading the Kingdom of God. It all begins with a positive response to the invitation of Jesus, “Come, follow me.”

Where would we be if Eli or Samuel, Andrew or Simon-Peter – or any of the Saints or prophets of the Church said, “No,” listed their excuses, and the walked away? Let there be no excuses today. Let God do the talking, and let us respond in faith.