The calling of God: Meditation for the 2nd Sunday after epiphany

One main area we hear the voice of God is through His call. The call of God conjures a modern image of phone call. The phone of our heart rings and it’s God on the line. He indicates His interest in us. He invites us to a cause. God’s call is primarily, “Come” (‘follow me’ — to belong to Him/become a Christian), then “Go” (to mission/ministry/ specific assignment).

In the event of derailing, or turning away from God, the call becomes “Come Back” (call to repentance and redirection). Those who heed the call to be Christians are, in consequence, called to “fellowship with Christ” (1Cor. 1:9), to “holiness” (1Thes. 4:7), to “liberty” (Gal. 5:13), to “peace” (1Cor. 7:15), and to “virtue” (2Pet. 1:3). They are to “walk worthy” of the calling they have received (Eph. 4:1).

When God calls, it is to obedience and total submission to His demands. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian succinctly puts it: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time — death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.”

The nature of God’s call or covenant with the people of Israel is such that He dictated the terms. He simply told the people what to do and they only responded: “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” (Exod. 24:3). There was no ground for negotiation or the liberty of choosing what is suitable. Failure to submit to God’s demand when He calls will result in ultimate judgement of God, as well as ugly consequences and uncomfortable situations. God’s call comes with compulsion. As St Augustine of Hippo puts it: “God has made us for Himself, and we cannot find rest or peace except in Him.” Therefore, those who refuse to heed the initial call of the Lord to follow him will not know peace in their lives. Likewise, those who fail to heed God’s call to church ministry or any other specific assignment will also know no peace no matter the attractions that lure them away from the positive response of the call.

Many times, the call of God in general and open to all. Those who hear and respond are accepted and become the chosen. Isaiah, for instance, did not hear God calling him specifically. He rather overheard God saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” and then responded: “Here am I! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8).

The calling of God carries some privileges and blessings, as well as some responsibilities. Those who abuse the privileges or fail in their responsibilities are set aside and cast out, “for many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14).

Reflections On The Readings (Mattins)
The OT passage (Ezek. 2:1-7; 3:4-11) contains the calling and commissioning of the Prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel to declare to them the terrible judgments that would very shortly come upon the whole land if they failed to repent. The challenges and the divine expectations of him were laid bare to him. His message was a difficult one and the people he was to address were difficult ones. Ezekiel was called to give God’s message to the people whether they would want or to accept it or not. The measure of his success would not be how well the people responded, but how well he obeyed God and thus fulfilled God’s purpose for him. When God calls and deploys, He does not judge the called on how well people respond to Him, but how well he himself responds to God’s call or how faithful he has been. The world of business defines success in terms of giving customers what they want. But in the divine business, success is in terms of giving the clients what they need as determined by God.

The NT passage (Matt. 10:1-22) records the calling and commissioning of the apostles. Jesus called the 12 disciples and gave them powers requisite for the work they were to do. He spelt out their assignments, modus operandi and also the dangers and challenges or difficulties they would encounter in the course of their work. But in all things, they need to put their trust in God and remain faithful to Him. The highpoint is in the last verse — “But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Enduring to the end is evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. It is the by-product of a truly devoted and faithful life.

• The Venerable (Dr.) Princewill Onyinyechukwu Ireoba, FIMC, CMC, is the Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
https://ibrucentre.org.
princewillireoba@gmail.com, trinityfoundationibrucentre@gmail.com