13 July 2024 – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) (Sunset Mass)

by Fr Fabian Dicom

Dear friends,

In recent days, there has been a noticeable flurry of holiday plans among many. You had a holiday last weekend, today is a holiday as well. It seems everybody is either just back from a getaway or eagerly planning their next adventure. Personally I also managed to squeeze in a few days not long ago and it was so good to have some time away. I am back.

Now a holiday for most of us embodies a journey, a deliberate departure from our every day routine into new and often unfamiliar surroundings. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation that accompanies this kind of journey. A choice made willingly and enthusiastically.

Yet, alongside these voluntary journeys, there are other parts in life that summon us. A call not of our own making but one that resonates deep within our hearts. These are journeys we feel compelled to undertake. Journeys that challenge us, stretch us and sometimes even unsettle us. They are journeys we embark upon not because they promise ease or comfort but because they align with something deep within us. A sense of duty perhaps, a calling or a deeper purpose.

Today our Readings direct us to reflect on such journeys. Journeys of calling.

In the First Reading, we encounter Amos, a simple shepherd and caretaker of sycamore trees in Judah. Despite his humble occupation, he is chosen by God to travel to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and deliver a message of warning and repentance. This journey is far from a holiday. It is a mission, fraught with challenges and risks. Yet, Amos obeys the divine call, recognising it as a summons from God Himself.

“The Lord took me from following the flock. The law and the Lord said to me ‘Go, prophesy to my people, Israel.’“

Similarly, in the Gospel Reading, we witness the disciples sent out by Jesus on a mission of preaching and healing. They too respond willingly to this call, leaving behind their familiar lives to venture into unknown territories…..but, empowered by the authority bestowed upon them by Jesus. Their journey is not a leisurely excursion but a purposeful mission, driven by their commitment to the Good News and their trust in Jesus’ guidance.

And Saint Paul in the Second Reading offers us further insight into the nature of these journeys, these journeys of calling. He speaks of God’s eternal plan and purpose, a plan that pre-dates our own very existence and encompasses our lives in the unfolding of it.

Now this divine plan, Paul explains, is not random but intricately designed to conform, to mould us, to meld us, to form us in the image of Jesus Christ. It is a journey marked by grace, where God’s choice and our free response intersect. That is what we are heading for, that God’s will and our choice come together, shaping our lives, directing our paths towards His will and nothing else.

So, reflecting on these Readings, prompts us to consider the journey we undertake in our own lives.

While holidays and vacations offer us moments of rest and rejuvenation, there exists a deeper journey. A journey of faith, a journey of obedience, a journey of discipleship, that God invites each of us to embark upon. This journey rooted in God’s purpose for us calls us to follow in the footsteps of Christ, to proclaim His message of love and reconciliation and to live lives transformed by His grace.

The journeys we make in response to a deeper calling or divine purpose can manifest in various ways in our lives. Now when we look at these journeys, there is sometimes a stereotyping of these journeys. We feel very limited or even defeated when we think of these kind of journeys. Often people kind of make parallels to these journeys to the religious life, the priestly life or leaving everything behind to go as missionaries. And sometimes taken literally in the Gospel as the disciples go out. We feel that this is not how we can manage journeys.

Perhaps allow me to suggest that what is most important is not that physical part of leaving everything, going into some unknown land or unknown place and doing it. But most importantly it is the spirit of these journeys, the disposition needed to make and the end of that journey to do the will of God. To build His kingdom.

And maybe our journeys are for example (I have got numerous examples but it will take me the whole hour to come, so I will just select a few that will be relevant to you and to me):-

First, our personal growth journeys. These involve efforts to overcome personal challenges or to develop spiritually, to develop emotionally or to even develop intellectually. For instance, undertaking therapy or counselling to address deep-seated issues or committing to a spiritual retreat for inner renewal. And the end is to be that person God is calling us to be. At the end, it is to be part of building His kingdom.

Then we have relational journeys. These entail navigating significant relationships in our lives, with the focus on healing, on reconciliation, on deepening connection. I am sure you can relate to these. Examples include efforts to mend broken relationships, foster stronger family bonds, to support friends through difficult times. These are journey as well.

Social justice and advocacy journeys. These involve taking a stand for social causes or marginalised communities. It could be volunteering for organisations that fight for human rights, advocating for environmental sustainability or participating in movements for racial equality and justice. And there are plenty of avenues in our country to do that. Perhaps God is calling us to make that journey.

Spiritual journeys. And these encompass deepening one’s relationship with God, exploring one’s faith in new tranformative ways. Examples include things that you have done before – going on pilgrimages, joining religious communities or retreats or committing to daily spiritual practices like prayer and meditation.

Now I think the next journey, many of you can relate. Parenting and family journeys. These involve the joys and challenges of raising children or caring for ageing parents. It also could include fostering or adopting children, navigating blended families or caring for a loved one with special needs. 

And finally, health and well-being journeys. These involve efforts to improve physical, mental and emotional health. Examples include embarking on a fitness journey, seeking treatment for chronic illness or prioritising self-care and mental well-being.

At the end, to be who we are called to be, to be the best that the Lord is calling us to be. To love Him, to serve Him, to build His kingdom. Just like how the disciples did it. Just like how Amos responded.

I have got a few more examples. I will stop there, okay?

These journeys often involve stepping outside our comfort zones. Facing challenges and growing in faith, courage and compassion. They are characterised by a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world around us.

My dear brothers and sisters, today’s Readings challenge us to discern God’s call in our lives. We have many journeys. It is not a once-and-for-all journey. The call within a call, journey within journeys, we need to discern every time and to respond when He calls us, with courage and with faith. Like Amos and the disciples, we may feel inadequate or uncertain about the journey ahead. Yet, God assures us of His presence. God assures us of His provision.

As we step out in obedience to His call, we experience His grace sustaining us. His spirit guiding us and His love transforming us. Let us therefore embrace each journey, whether chosen or sensed as a divine call, as an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and to participate more fully in His kingdom work.

May we heed His call with open hearts and willing spirits, trusting that His plans for us are good, His purpose are steadfast and His presence goes with us always.

In conclusion, let us pray for the grace to discern God’s call in our lives and the courage to respond faithfully, knowing that in following His path, we find true fulfillment and eternal significance. May God bless each of us abundantly on our journeys of faith and may His peace and joy accompany us always.

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