A Reflection on The First Reading for June 24, 2018: Solemnity of The Nativity of Saint John The Baptist

Isaiah 49:1-6

1Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. 3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 4But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God." 5And now the LORD says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength -- 6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

“It is too small a thing…”. These words frighten, amaze, and captivate me, because they are not only for Israel--thousands of years ago. God speaks them to you, and me, today. A task that appears far beyond our reach is, for the Lord, “too small a thing”. He calls us higher. To do what is impossible without His help.
 
“I will give you as a light to the nations”. When we climb our own mountains, which seem sufficiently high, the Spirit beckons us to look to the horizon--to the higher mountain in the distance. His mountain. When we do things our own way we have little lights. When we surrender to His way, He amplifies the light He has given and, amid heavy darkness, we shine wherever He leads us.
 
We are the Church. And we are not made for ourselves.
 
“Too small a thing” can apply to individuals, parish communities, and the universal Church. God sees from a better vantage point--He knows what we are capable of, and what He is capable of doing through our cooperation.
 
When I read these words, I can’t help but reflect on St. Benedict Parish’s world-wide influence through Divine Renovation. The Body of Christ needs to be reminded of her mission, and God’s words to Isaiah directly address her calling. As Fr. James Mallon said in a recent article,
 
“[The Church is] a missionary organization but we function as a club. A club is something that exists for the members. A church is the only organization that exists for those who don’t belong, it’s outward-focused.”
 
A missionary mindset is where the “primary concern is the people you don’t have”, and this is where the Spirit is orienting Israel’s focus. He is Israel’s God, but it is also His imperative to reach all nations through Israel. Israel’s identity is to be a light, leading others into relationship with Him.
 
How can we ever accomplish this mission and adopt this vision? Only by being rooted in Christ and receiving all our strength from the Source. Only by becoming one with Him.  Being guided by the Spirit, who will give us the words and purify our hearts so that His light shines through with greater clarity. And how do we know He will do this?
 
“The Lord called me before I was born”: He called you, long before you were aware or could fully respond.
 
“He made my mouth like a sharp sword… he made me a polished arrow in his quiver…”: He has prepared and equipped you. You are made for this.
 
“…my God has become my strength” – He will be your strength, if you choose Him.

Let us ask our Father to remind us of who we are – to awaken our hearts and rouse us with a passion for those who are not yet close to His heart. We may be a small people, but we are called to a cooperative mission that will accomplish far greater things than we could ever imagine.

Kendra Chisholm

"We are the Church. And we are not made for ourselves."  - Kendra Chisholm (Ora Reflections)