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John
20:10-18
As a child I remember sitting in church each Sunday and being intrigued with
the mural on the front wall of the nave. Mary was sitting at the tomb weeping,
and Jesus was standing behind her. Later I learned the rest of the story. Jesus
had asked, "Woman, why are you weeping?" Assuming him to be the
gardener, Mary answered, "They have taken away my Lord."
"Mary!" he said. She immediately recognized his voice and responded,
"Teacher." Thinking of the moment when Jesus called Mary by name, I
was filled with emotion.
This past spring in my sermon for our women’s "Listen, God Is
Calling" Thankoffering service, the Gospel began with this story of Mary at
the tomb. As I read it, I experienced the same emotion that I had felt as a
child. What if Mary hadn’t listened when Jesus called her name? What if she
hadn’t recognized him?
Several years ago I received a call to be nominated as president of a
synodical women’s organization. Reluctantly I asked for time to pray about it.
I asked God to answer me through my husband. I was absolutely certain that Al
would encourage me to say no. Hadn’t he just told me a few weeks before that I
needed to slow down? Much to my amazement, the day before my answer was due, my
husband stopped the car on our way home from a funeral. He took my hand and said
through his tears, "Joan, I have decided that my calling is to support you
at what you do best, and that’s leadership. I think you should agree to run
for synodical president." A miracle? Absolutely! Without a doubt!
It was at that moment that I listened and heard God calling my name.
"Joan, I want you to listen. I am calling you into this ministry." I
didn’t know how I was going to handle the years ahead. But the peace I
experienced when I answered the call — and knowing that I would have God’s
help — made everything seem possible.
Shhhh! Listen! Is God calling your name? Do you recognize God’s voice? What
a blessing and privilege it is when the Lord calls you by your name and asks you
to serve.
Joan DeWeerth served as president of the Northern Illinois Synodical
Women’s Organization from 1990 to 1996.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible,
copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of Churches of Christ in the USA, and are used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. All
rights reserved.
May be reproduced for use in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America provided the copyright information above appears on every copy with
these words: Used with permission.
For all other purposes contact Women of the ELCA.
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