God has a big stake in ongoing conversation with humanity. God was so hungry for human conversation that God’s Word “became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14). God’s voice comes to us in Jesus so that we might hear, see, taste, smell and touch it. Incarnation testifies to God’s desire for encounter, and that conversation continues for a lifetime. All we need to do is turn like Samuel toward the voice and say: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” God will keep calling until we come.
Like Father, like Son. Jesus called his disciples again and again. The words “follow me” were not a once-in-a-lifetime sort of offer, so that if the disciples didn’t respond immediately, they would miss their chance. Jesus called them over and over and over again along the journey.
We latter-day disciples can expect no less. In words and in silences, in sacrament and in everyday encounter, Jesus calls in hopes that we too will turn and recognize God’s voice in his own.
This message is excerpted from “Listen! God is calling.” by M.E. Stortz in the July/August 2019 Gather magazine.
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