What do we discover when the call from God awakens us?

What do we discover when the call from God awakens us?

Spring-time brings new life to the trees, plants, and the souls of many who are just waking from the sleep of doubt.   It can be the wake-up notice we’ve been waiting to hear, but never realized what it would sound like.  Many would-be priests might not become aware of this call until later years when the nudge of help resounds deep down in the depth of their soul.  That help is the same that Jeramiah heard.  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”  (Jer 1: 5).

The vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, had concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.  “Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the Lord speaks.”  (Is 1: 1).  

These  prophets who heard, learned, and took God’s word by reaching out to the Land of Israel answering God’s appeal to save his people.   Perhaps the first man to answer this call was Abraham.  “The Lord said to Abram:  “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.”  (Gn 12: 1).

Already, we see three giants from the Old Testament who were leading the way to a promised Messiah who would confound the tragedy of sin.  Jesus Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity, was now the answer God would use to redeem his wayward children.  None of these men and many others who were also called by God knew what to expect in their chosen ministry, but listened to their hearts and moved forward through history as we can attest to.

Moving ahead to the 21st century and some years before the call never changed.  The process has varied but the call remains the same.”Many are invited, but few are chosen.”  (Mt 22: 14).  There was a period of time when too many priests were ordained but no parishes to place them.  My pastor related that to me way back in the 1960’s.  

We can just wish that was the problem facing the Church today.  Even if a legion of angels were leading a parade to seek new applicants to the priesthood, many ears that were open to this call would first want to say; “I just purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them: I ask you to consider me excused.”  Excuses that fit today’s living of commerce and wealth fit the call exactly the same.  “I hear the call from God, but there are too many needs to fill my pockets and prestige to respond.”  (Lk 14: 19 ff).  

It no longer is just a simple yes or no to reach out by evangelizing through preaching God’s word.  It is finding the path that leads millennials back to the Church through sacraments and the forgiveness of God through reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist.  Deacons and many lay-people can preach and reach the un-learned in God, but only priests can forgive through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the act of Transubstantiation (the real presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ).  I wrote an article some years back titled; “without priests we are doomed.”  Many ministers use the same scenario of faith dwindling, but only through the Catholic Church is the real presence of Christ available.  That is Truth. 

“That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that cannot be apprehended by the senses, says St. Thomas, (Aquinas), but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.  For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22: 19 (This is my body which is given for you).  St Cyril says:  “Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is truth, he cannot lie.”   (CCC 1381).

Ralph B. Hathaway