Father Tim Lemlin
While reading to prepare this homily, I became aware that the material that I was viewing all had one thing in common. They each linked being called with an action. Most combined being called with doing. This is not surprising. As a people, we tend to link everything with doing. Our conversations are filled with, "How are you doing? How's your project coming along? What do you do for a living?"
I suspect that the call in our first reading from Samuel and our gospel reading is more about being than about doing. Samuel hears his name being called during the night. It is so real to him that he runs to Eli, the temple priest, to see what he wants. This happens three times. Then Eli suggests to Samuel not to do anything. Instead, Samuel is to respond, "Here I am." This is a response of being.
Our gospel reading from John carries a similar message. Two disciples of John the Baptist begin to follow Jesus and eventually ask him where he is staying. (Another translation uses the word "dwelling." A word that is closely linked with being.) Jesus responds, "Come, and you will see." The two men, we are told, did go, did see and stayed with him. The image that we receive from the description of this event is more one of being than of doing.
We tend to use our actions to justify our existence. When I am doing well in my job, as a spouse, as a parent, or as a student, I feel that my existence is worth something. I feel energetic, generous and full of life. When, however, I encounter something that I don't understand, can't fix, or do anything about, I lose my job, tension develops with my spouse, my child begins to use drugs, or I fail a class, I feel that my existence is worthless. I feel depressed, unhappy and complain about everything.
Our existence is not the result of our actions. It is a gift given to us in love. We are called "Beloved" not as a result of our actions. We are called "Beloved" because that is who we are. When we know who we are, then we act who we are. Our actions are not motivated by the need to prove that I have a right to live. Instead, our actions are motivated because I know that life has been given to me. God doesn't love me because I am good - because I have earned my existence. God loves me so I can be good - so I can exist.
