How to fathom God’s call

St Ambrose – Bishop of Milan was one of the most significant church leaders of the fourth century.  What is most extraordinary about this man is the story about how he became bishop -  how he was called to such a position in the life of the church.  By our standards today it would seem bizarre, preposterous and almost certainly irresponsible.

Ambrose was of noble birth and became an eloquent and wise politician, and in the year 370 he was promoted to being the prefect of one of the provinces in upper Italy in Milan.  Though not yet a Christian, he upheld the Christian virtues of hospitality and justice, and was becoming known as an excellent leader.  Furthermore, he did become convinced of the truth of the Christian faith and so presented himself as a catchumen, preparing for baptism.

Then the local bishop died and a division arose among the people over a successor. A crowd gathered and it appeared that a riot might break out.  The governor sought to intervene and just as he got the crowd reasonably quiet and had began speaking, a childlike voice rang out so clearly that the entire crowd heard: “Let Ambrose be Bishop!”

Was it an angel or was it really a child?  No matter.  The people picked up the theme:  Worthy is Ambrose they shouted!!  But Ambrose had not even been baptized!  He was terrified.  He made excuses.  He seized every means to escape from this unbelievable “calling.”   Finally though, Ambrose submitted.  The year was 374.  He was baptized and in the succeeding week went through the orders of deacon and priest and on the eighth day after his baptism, he was consecrated Bishop of Milan.  A meteoric rise to say the least.  As it is recorded he fulfilled this calling with incredible honour and faithfulness until his death.

For something like that to be suggested or even contemplated today would send Professional Standards into a spin!! However, even by the standards of that time let alone our own is extraordinary yet reminds us as do our readings that God’s call can come in the most surprising and unexpected ways -  be it through a voice in the night, be it through the voice of a child in the midst of a crowd,  be it through someone next to us tapping us on the shoulder and saying – ‘why don’t you apply for that job or have you thought of preaching, teaching or whatever?’ It can come when we least expect it – it can come in a way or form that surprises, disturbs, challenges and upsets us.  We struggle to come to terms with it as we see in the characters of Samuel and Nathanuel.

While the call of God to the child Samuel is extraordinary in itself, at the same time this whole encounter just adds more complexity and confusion at it sets aside any suggestion that hearing, understanding, discerning and accepting God’s call is always dramatic, clear or simple. The boy Samuel we are told does not yet even know the Lord – and yet this is the one the Lord chooses to call - one who is so young and inexperienced – the one you would least expect to be designated a prophet to God’s people.  Yet this just reinforces the point – about ‘vocation’ or ‘calling’ that this is always the initiative and prerogative of God and that it can so often defy or transcend our human ways, understanding or expectations.

God’s call to us of each first as disciples but perhaps more significantly in how we are to live out that discipleship is awesome and challenging.  Like Samuel and the disciples it will lead and take us into areas of ministry – into places of every day life that we would otherwise never even think of or consider.  Yet as hard as this may and can be – we are not alone and I believe that God will provide us with what we need as we have seen in the example of Samuel and the guidance he received from Eli even though this was to prove to be very much at Eli’s expense.

As the biblical story of salvation attests – for the prophets like Samuel and also for the disciples of Jesus – God’s call is more than often complex, full of tension, ambiguous and indeed awesome so that we either become fearful or simply don’t want to know.  It can just seem beyond us.

How can we then respond or say like Samuel - Here I am Lord. “Speak, for your servant is listening”.  How can we respond to Jesus’ call – to follow him or the challenge to come and see?

I believe we can respond in the affirmative – we can like Samuel and the disciples respond – albeit perhaps tentatively, somewhat fearfully and with a good dose of uncertainty of what this might bring and how on earth we might fulfil what Jesus calls us to be and to do!  We can do so because as the scripture reveals and bears witness to time and time again - that first and foremost it is God’s initiative to call us.  It is in God’s hand and it is the God of all creation – the God who the psalmist declares … has searched me out and known me:  who knows when I sit or when I stand, who comprehends my thoughts long before - in other words the God who in Jesus knows me better than I know myself.  Do we honestly think that God would call us to be or do something that is beyond us?  And even if that might seem to be the case as no doubt Samuel and the disciples may have thought, as we are told - these servants that God called fulfilled their calling.  God knows us intimately – as the gospel says God knows the number of hairs on our head and so it is this intimacy – this love that surely should give us confidence in the God who calls us.

Of course this is not to under estimate the challenge in discerning God’s call – and it is not something that we can always just discern by ourselves.  More than often, it needs testing out – thus, for example when believing we are called to a particular ministry in the church – it is the church – the Diocese, the Parish, the community of faith that have a role in confirming that call.  It may even be the case that it is only in retrospect that we can say ‘yes – this is what God has called me to do’.

Importantly of course we understand that embracing God’s call or vocation does not mean that all will be smooth sailing or successful.  We know that more than likely – our vocation … our call to service by God will have its ups and downs – we will wonder, question and even doubt at times whether this is what God wants us to do as it seems anything but successful. 

In spite of the challenges, struggles and failures or successes - what is asked of us as people called by God to whatever task or ministry is an openness and trust in our Lord and Saviour - a steadfastness and faithfulness to that call.

This is what the cross is all about … success in the midst of failure, light from darkness, life out of death.   We are all called in some way to show forth that light and life as I hope we can say like Samuel - ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening. 

Fr greg Davies