By Amala William csc –
Readings: 1Kgs 19:19-21; Mt 5:33-37
In today’s first reading we see the peculiar call of Elisha. Elijah went after the plowing oxen and chose the twelfth oxen belonging to Elisha. He put on his mantle on Elisha and went farther. Elisha bid farewell to his parents and followed Elijah. The Gospel speaks about not swearing oaths by heaven or by the earth. Simply say if it is ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
This reminds me of my vocation to follow Jesus. I too found my call as a strange one, involving no vision or apparition. The call was not very clear to me, yet I just followed the flow of the current. I found it easy in saying initial ‘Yes’ but to sustain in that yes was a herculean task. As I was exposed to the world’s reality, it challenged the pre-constructed ideas of mine, the external world seemed to be very nice and good.
There were several occasions I have asked myself, ‘actually, what am I doing here in the seminary?’ These questions were not answered in one night as it happens in the movie climaxes. It took me quite a lot of time; I confirmed my call to follow Jesus during the year of Novitiate. Ultimately, my full conviction helped in becoming aware of God’s wonders in my daily life. 1Jn 4:19 says, ‘We love because he loved us first.’
It is his love that I share in dedicating my life to and serving the people of God. It was from my personal experience with the person of Christ, who deepens my thirst for God through his call in words and actions. Lord, grant us the grace to keep your will and steadily to say ‘yes’ to you, so that our whole being finds joy in surrendering ourselves to you.