The readings today present God’s call to three very reluctant and imperfect people: the prophet Isaiah, the apostle Paul and the disciple Peter. Each man believed himself unworthy to serve the Lord and each one was transformed after personally experiencing the overwhelming grace of God’s forgiveness and acceptance. Three very flawed people heard God’s call and responded.
Just as God called Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, God calls us. At our baptism each of us became a member of the Body of Christ sharing in the mission of the Church given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” When we receive Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength we need to “spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ.” In Eucharist we receive the nourishment we need to be transformed in Christ. Through the sacraments we have everything we need to respond to God’s call “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
Today’s readings remind all of us that no matter how unworthy we feel, we are empowered to minister. Each of us is blessed with the gift of God’s unconditional love. It is that love that gives us the grace to respond to God, “Here I am, send me.”
Holy God of our happiness,
you entrust your Good News of life
to weak and fallible people.
Keep us from discouragement
and give us the strength to speak your message
with the language of our life.
Let Jesus your Son work with us and in us,
that each of us may have the courage to say:
Here I am, Lord,
send me as your messenger
to share your glad tidings of happiness
with all willing to listen.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
