"Say Yes" by Fr. Chris House
Say Yes
The Scripture readings for this weekend tells us of invitations: God calling Samuel and the Lord Jesus calling his disciples. In the Gospel, the invitation is clear. The would-be disciples of Jesus asked where he was staying and he responds “come and see.” We know that this statement is not quite as simple as it seems because this invitation was about far more than seeing where the Lord was dwelling; Jesus was inviting Andrew and the other disciple to a new and different life. They would come to understand the gravity of this invitation in a short time since it was Andrew who in turn brought his brother Simon to the Lord simply stating “we have found the Messiah.”
Samuel’s calling was not as clear as it was for Andrew and the other disciples. Samuel heard a call but he simply assumed that it is from his master, Eli. The calling persisted as God does not relent, and Samuel, through Eli’s help, came to understand from whom the call was coming. While it took time for Samuel to understand that it was the Lord who was calling, he nonetheless gave the disciple’s perfect response: “speak, for your servant is listening.”
Like Andrew and Samuel, we are all being called by the Lord, however, that call is not just for one moment in time. The Lord’s call is continuous and unrelenting, and it demands the same response in kind. This invitation to follow the Lord, the invitation to deeper life and love with him, demands a daily response in faith and love, not one that is lukewarm and non-committal. Have you ever invited someone to your home or to an event, one that you have poured much love, energy, time, your whole self into only to get a lackluster response, or a response that is almost one of inconvenience? The life that God is inviting us to is one in which he has poured the total gift of himself into, not for his own need or gratification, but for our good. All too often our response is non-committal, cautious, half-hearted, or even an outright refusal.
Is answering the Lord’s invitation without challenge? No, and we see that demonstrated in the lives of Andrew and Samuel as well as in our own lives. Nevertheless, the invitation remains. Are there things holding us back from making a total yes to the Lord’s invitation: out-of-order priorities, uncertainty, fear? Will answering the Lord’s call mean that your life will not always be easy? Yes. Will answering the Lord’s call mean that your life is not about you? Yes. Will answering the Lord’s call involve dying to yourself? Yes. Will answering the Lord’s call offer you something that the world cannot? Yes, eternal life. May we cooperate with the grace God is giving us to make that daily “yes” to his invitation to follow him, to walk in his light, and to live in his love.
Church Sound System
Since coming to CTK as pastor in July of 2020, I have felt like the church’s sound system and I have been engaged in a struggle to the death; to say that I am not a fan is an understatement. The Friday before last, Jan. 5, a system update was done which resulted in it crashing with no sound coming from the sanctuary speakers. Cory, our associate music director, was able to get some sound by having the clergy and readers use mics that go through the choirs’ system. At the time that I am writing this, we are still waiting to hear from the company that installed and services the system to see what our options are for moving forward. Thank you for your patience as we try to navigate this newest challenge.
Back Into Ordinary Time
Finally, as we enter back into Ordinary Time, this is the time in the Church year when the mysteries and graces of the other liturgical seasons, like Christmas, are lived out. I share with you a poem entitled “The Work of Christmas” by Howard Thurman, an African-American theologian, educator, and civil rights leader:
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!
Father Chris House
