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2ND Sunday after Epiphany - January 17, 1993

 "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach the end of the earth."

 There is truth in the old saying, "the hand that rocks the cradle shapes the way the child will go". Early childhood is such an important foundation for each person. I often Speak to young couples preparing for marriage about the importance of their relationship, their value systems, their conduct, hopes and dreams as being the qualities that any children in the marriage will inherit. And this begins even before the child is formed in the womb.

The formation of a person rests a great deal on the parents. Virginia Satir, a world class family counselor, uses the expression "people makers" to describe parents. When good guidance, quality activities, and lots of love are naturally and freely shared with offspring, the child grows with self-esteem and confidence.

There, of course, is a tendency lately for experts to over—emphasize the role of the parents. We need to be careful not to lay blame for all our shortcomings upon our parents. And parents who have done the best they can for their children need not feel guilty about the misdeeds of their now grown children. I do believe that each of us has opportunity to choose to do or not do what is perhaps right. And certainly circumstances do not always allow each of us to fulfill the destiny that may be ours.

In today's reading from the Old Testament we again encounter a passage from the servant poems or songs of Deutero-Isaiah. The wonderful words of the servant capture the thoughts of the "one who rocks the cradle". "The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me." The servant of the passage feels the deep realization of God's purpose for life. "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified", is how Isaiah phrases his deep affirmation to do what God has called into being.

The servant, expressing disappointment in seemingly unfruitful toil, never waivers from the commitment to do what God urges. With purpose, resting on the conviction that the call has come even from time of conception, the servant accepts the challenge "to be a light to the nations, that salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

In Christianity we apply the servant songs to describe Jesus. The prophetic announcements from ancient writings are re-read to reveal the qualities of God's chosen one, the Messiah. From before you were conceived in your mother's womb you were formed and called to be my Son. John gives witness: "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

This call by God to individuals, this call that deep within our hearts beckons us onward to some purpose, was responded to by the young man Jesus of Nazareth. We idolize and wrap wonder around this person Christ, the one we call Son of God; yet is not Jesus the one who calls to us to come and follow him — to seek quality in life that is above self-indulgence, life that is shaped by values that delineate right from wrong, life that is immersed in a love that touches others as they are. We too are called by God to purpose. We are instruments of God's love. And the qualities that allow us to know that we are also chosen by God even before we are formed in the womb, are imprinted within our being at a very early age.

Paul uses these words to tell the Corinthians of his response, "called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God". And he goes on to tell the Corinthians that they too are "called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Today we are hearing more and more of the important emphasis being placed on the Ministry of all the Baptized. Isaiah’s servant was called to a specific ministry of witness. John the Baptizer was given a specific function. Paul was equipped for a particular purpose. We are now realizing that all of us are called to do ministry, do witnessing and sharing of the Good News of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Part of the function of a parish is to gather people like you and me to affirm the qualities of life we share as Christians. The provision of collective worship brings to each of us strength of purpose in God's world. We need to assure that opportunity is present to each person to find resources, feel reinforced, to be motivated and given courage to respond to his or her calls from God - a call that is unique to each one, not a mass following of sheep in a herd, but a distinct ministry of gifts given already by God for each of us to use for God's purpose.

We are preparing for the annual meeting of our parish. As we approach that time we all need to reflect upon how God is calling us evermore into his purpose of divine creation. The changes and challenges given any age unfold in the mysterious ways when God uses all the people, our task is to discern the gifts we have been given, using those gifts to the glory of God. (One of the gifts we need to recognize is the one given to the person who sees the gift within us, calling us into action to respond and contribute) The qualities, the shapes of who we are, have already been planted within us. So now we continue to move forward, taking courage from one another, becoming who we are meant to be as servants of God.

And this God we worship, this God who calls us into being, does this God not also say to us "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

 Part of the function of a parish is to gather people like you and me to affirm the qualities of life we share as Christians. The provision of collective worship brings to each of us strength of purpose in God's world. We need to assure that opportunity is present to each person to find resources, feel reinforced, to be motivated and given courage to respond to his or her calls from God — a call that is unique to each one, not a mass following of sheep in a herd, but a distinct ministry of gifts given already by God for each of us to use for God's purpose.

 We are preparing for the annual meeting of our parish. As we approach that time, we all need to reflect upon how God is calling us evermore into his purpose of divine creation. The changes and challenges given any age unfold in the mysterious ways when God uses all of the people, our task is to discern the gifts we have been given, using those gifts to the glory of God. (One of the gifts we need to recognize is the one given to the person who sees the gift within us, calling us into action to respond and contribute. 

The qualities, the shapes of who we are, have already been planted within us. So now we continue to move forward, taking courage from one another, becoming who we are meant to be as servants of God. And this God we worship, this God who calls us into being, does this God not also say to us "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Fr Art