God calls each of us. We may not see or hear Jesus the way that Philip did in today’s gospel, but Jesus still “speaks” to us in varied ways.
One person who can attest to this is St. John Neumann. Known for his straightforward and humble way of speaking, he described his call to become a missionary as the result of studying the life of St. Paul and Father Baraga, a modern-day missionary to North America.
As a seminarian, John Neumann perceived the hand of God at work through his professor’s instruction, the lives of priests who set off to other lands, and a fellow seminarian with whom he shared a similar call to follow in the footsteps of the first apostles of Christ.
How has God called you to follow Him in your life? What are some of the ways that He has drawn you closer to Him and others who also wish to follow Him?
So, often, we get so used to our particular vocation in life that we might lose an appreciation for how God has called us to this way of living.
Every now and then, it’s good to go back and remember the times we’ve heard God call us. It could be on a retreat, in a class like John Neumann, at Mass while listening to the Word of God, or while walking and talking to a family member or friend.
Likewise, we can recognize there are times when we are meant to be like Philip, who brought Nathaniel to Jesus. We are to share this friendship with God with others, even if, at first, they don’t respond favorably.
There’s a good lesson in how things unfolded in today’s gospel. Nathaniel isn’t sold on Philip’s claim that Jesus is the Christ. And, yet, Philip doesn’t give up. Instead, he invites Nathaniel to come and see Jesus. We can do the same. Not trying to convince people solely on what God has done for us but by inviting them to come and see what God can and will do for them.
You know, I was just telling a friend that our former pastor, Father Neil Heery, was so good at inviting people to help in one way or the other at the parish as you were entering or leaving Mass. He was so kind and would speak with sincerity while making eye contact and holding onto your hand.
My friend Tom and I agreed Father Heery’s holiness and goodness conveyed that he was like Philip inviting many to come and see Jesus through serving God at Sacred Heart parish. In this New Year, let’s emulate Philip, St. John Neumann, and all those people like Father Heery who invite others to come and see Jesus.
Reverend David S. Marcham is the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Director of the Father Peyton Guild, whose members pray for Father Peyton’s beatification and spread his message of the importance of Family Prayer. Prior to becoming a seminarian, Father David was a physical therapist and clinical instructor, serving hospital inpatients and outpatients throughout the greater Boston area for eleven years. In 1998 he heard the call to priesthood and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005. Father David grew up in Quincy, MA, and has fond memories of playing soccer, tennis and running track. You’re never without a friend when Father David is around, as he welcomes everyone into his circle with a smile on his face!
