Love is a Radiator

Howdy!

Last weekend was Vocation Sunday but this weekend's readings seem to say more to me about being called by God for His special purpose.

The 2nd reading is St. Paul's I Corinthians 12:4-11. In it he talks to his fledgling Christians about how God gives us all gifts, and that they are all different, but that they are still God's gifts. Isaiah in the first reading (Is.62:1-5) tells the chosen people that in God's mind they are intimate lovers. God considers His people to be just as a new bride or groom is to their new spouse. He uses intimate language to talk to his ancient (and now modern) audience about how dearly God loves us and calls us. In the Gospel from the second chapter of John we see Jesus beginning His ministry at a wedding in Cana. The unsuspecting guests are going to receive a real treat. Where logically folks can be served the Old Crow after they've had plenty of Maker's Mark and they won't know the difference; Jesus turns water into Blanton's. (okay, it was really wine, but I know there are more folks around here who know about the quality of bourbon, and less who know about the quality of wine.)

Here's why I think that these readings talk to us about vocations. A vocation is a calling to use our gifts for the service of God and others. I did not choose the gifts that God gave to me and neither did you. But they all came from God. We are called in turn to return our gifts for God's good. This morning I used the image with our 1st-3rd graders that we use our gifts like radiators. We are not the source of our heat, or our power, or our gifts. God is! We are given our gifts to be radiated or spread, like a space heater or radiator is. That is what Jesus did in Cana. He used God's gift of generosity and joy to make the wedding day for the unsuspecting newly weds a party with the finest of wines. He used His gifts not to make Himself better, but to enhance the lives of His hosts and the other wedding guests. This first miracle of His was to be followed by many other miracles, works, and words. And every step of the way, in everything that he did, he used His life to radiate the gifts that His Father had given Him for the benefit of others and ultimately for the glory and honor of His Father.

We all are called by God to use the life we have for the benefit of others and to praise God. Hows' your radiator working?

peace,
Fr. Chuck